The corn crop in South Africa, suffering this season from a severe drought, would be in much worse shape if the country was not allowed genetically modified varieties and new agricultural technologies, said the industrial holding company.

South Africa company Agricultural Biotechnology Industry (ABI) reported that during the last serious drought in 1991/92., before the largest producer of corn in Africa has allowed the production of GM grain, the average yield of corn was 0,85/tons per hectare.

Seasons-2014/15 and 2015/16 were dry. With the adoption of GM maize the average yield is estimated today at the level of 3.72/ton per hectare.

ABI said that without GM varieties and new technology, Africa can produce only 1.65 million tons of corn this season and will have to import additional 9.4 million tonnes, what you will spend, according to preliminary estimates, the 33 billion Rand ($2.30 billion).

Grain SA, an organization of manufacturers, predicts that South Africa will have to import 3.8 million tonnes of corn this marketing year, which began on may 1, because of the drought deficit, which increased domestic prices of food commodities and inflation.

South Africa has always been a net exporter of maize and rarely imported to meet domestic needs.

April 22, South Africa in the past marketing season (October-April) imported approximately 1.8 million tons of corn.

The ABI guidance said that new techniques such as precision farming, which uses GPS technology to increase efficiency also contributed to the improvement of productivity.

ABI also said that South Africa in 2017 for the first time will start production of drought-resistant GM corn, which has a special gene, Monsanto provided free of charge. This corn has been tested by small farmers and was approved for use in South Africa.

Source: Thomson Reuters