South Africa amongst other SADC countries is forced to import maize as drought and soaring temperature levels have destroyed crops. South Africa will need to import about 934 000 tons of yellow maize worth 137 million US dollars from countries like Argentina and Ukraine. The drought has damaged crops in the Free State and North West, which comprised 64% of output in 2014. The local price of white maize has risen 27% in Johannesburg this year and that of yellow maize, used mainly as animal feed, by 13%. Late rains at the end of February were not enough to salvage crops as most had already been pollinated. African Dialogue host Benjamin Moshatama spoke to a panel including Wandile Sihlobo Economist Grain-S.A, Ishmael Sunga Chief Executive Officer Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)and Daniel Mclaren, senior Researcher Studies in Poverty and Inequality institute. Listen to the Podcast below……