October 14, 2010

Restrictions on GM corn imports hurt South African exports

Restrictions on genetically modified (GM) corn imports in some countries have weighed on South Africa's ability to access export markets for the grain, an industry official said on Wednesday (Oct 13).

Despite the need for more food some African countries have banned GM imports, fearing they could be harmful to humans and animals.

South Africa, the world's eighth-largest producer of GM crops and Africa's biggest, has seen a rapid increase in gene-altered crop output since it started growing GM farm produce in 1998.

"In South Africa we primarily grow GM corn and controls on the exports of the crop in African countries such as Kenya have placed restrictions on (the country's) ability to access new markets," Jethro Mbau, chairman of agricultural service group Afgri.

GM imports remain controversial in countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The South African government has said it is still looking for additional export markets for farmers who expected their largest crop of the grain since the record 14.42 million tonnes harvested in the 1981-82 season.

The government's Crop Estimates Committee last month trimmed its final estimates for the May-April 2009-10 corn crop to 13.034 million tonnes, citing lower-than-expected yields and deliveries to silos.

Most southern African countries also expected to record big corn harvests this year and plan to export the surplus grain, limiting the scope of its traditional markets.