CAPE TOWN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Africa needs to import more than 2 million tonnes of maize in 2016/17 as a severe drought hits farm output, although exports of certain fruits and beef have remained resilient, the National Treasury said on Wednesday.
The worst drought in a century has scorched farm lands in Africa's most industrialized country, affecting some 2.7 million households and pushing up food prices as five provinces were declared disaster areas.
"Exports of certain fruits, nuts and beef products have remained resilient, supported by the weaker rand, global demand and market diversification," said the National Treasury in documents presented at parliament during Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's three-year budget outlook.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia) ((wendell.roelf@thomsonreuters.com; +254 20 499 1232;))
The worst drought in a century has scorched farm lands in Africa's most industrialized country, affecting some 2.7 million households and pushing up food prices as five provinces were declared disaster areas.
"Exports of certain fruits, nuts and beef products have remained resilient, supported by the weaker rand, global demand and market diversification," said the National Treasury in documents presented at parliament during Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's three-year budget outlook.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia) ((wendell.roelf@thomsonreuters.com; +254 20 499 1232;))
