This followed a meeting of the executive committee in Pretoria on Thursday.
Damage to the maize crop, especially in the Northwest and Free State, was already visible, the statement read. In Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape the grain crops were looking generally good, but follow up rain was crucial.
New season white maize prices have increased by R357/ton (17,5%) during the past ten days, Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA said in the statement.
Grain SA pointed out that maize meal was the biggest staple food in South Africa. It also formed the basis for processed products like poultry, dairy and meat.
“Good rains in the next ten days could change the direction the crop is going at the moment, but currently it does not look good,” De Villiers said.