Maize, known as corn in the United States and as mielies (or spelt mealies) in South Africa, is one of the main domesticated food crops. The scientific name for maize is Zea mays. Maize is classified as a wild plant having soft kernels on a cob, with starchy seeds. Classifications of corn comprise dent, flint, flour, pod, wax, sweet, and popcorn. Dent corn is the primary maize type produced in the United States.
Maize is an important source of carbohydrates and has a good level of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It is used in numerous food stuffs such as canned corn, baby food, and puddings. Not only is it an important human dietary food product, it is also utilized as livestock fodder. Industrially, it is included in the components of numerous materials such as insulating and adhesive types, dyes, insecticides, solvents, and pharmaceutical products. In addition to its domestic or industrial use, maize has been the subject of academic studies, particularly pertaining to genetics, soil fertility, as well as physiological and biochemistry research.
In 2021/22, South Africa was the ninth largest producer of maize (also known as “mielies” and corn) in the world, and the largest maize producer in Africa. Maize is a vital food crop in South Africa and is grown throughout the country.
Corn Field in South Africa
History of Maize
The history of maize appears to have begun in Mexico when ancient farmers planted seeds (kernels) of maize. Studies suggest that the farmers practiced a type of selective breeding when they chose kernels bearing a favorable characteristic or taste, also called artificial selection.
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Further studies relate that the discovery of corn occurred in 1492 during Columbus's travels, with the grain being found in Cuba. In this instance, it was said to have been exported to Europe, where it became valued in later years as a significant food substance.
Scientists have discovered evidence that there is a link between maize and teosinte, a type of Mexican grass. Initially it was thought that teosinte was more closely related to rice than maize. However, Nobel Prize winner Dr. George W. Beadle identified that maize and teosinte shared similar chromosomes. He reached the conclusion that they belonged to the same species, with maize being the domesticated version. Further forensic studies were conducted by botanists, genetic experiments performed, and archaeological excavations in the Balsas River Valley of Mexico carried out to prove the theory. Tools dating back 8,700 years were located indicating the use of maize correlating with the premise that the domestication of maize occurred 9,000 years ago.
Maize cobs have increased in size from the earliest recordings of the plant to specifications of maize known in 2015, especially that they contain more rows of kernels. Early plants evidently bear little resemblance to the type of corn with which we are familiar.
The national park in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers corn farming in the valley, thousands of years after the first inhabitants offered prayers to "mother corn" to take care of their plant crops (Hilaire). Festive celebratory dances and songs were conducted to offer gratitude for the reaping of corn and other plants. The farming of corn is still operational in this area, together with soy and other grains. Large machinery has replaced the small hand instruments to yield abundant crops.
Overview of Maize Farming in South Africa
In order for maize to grow, a rainfall exceeding 350 mm per year is required. The rain needs to fall consistently during the season of growth, particularly in an area of medium and high potential warm soils. In South Africa, October to December are primary maize planting times. Depending on the region and the rainfall pattern, planting time may vary as do tillage practices. The summer months are best for the maize crop, needing temperatures between 21-27 degrees Celsius. The latitudes 55 degrees north to 45 degrees south are the primary cultivation areas. Planting is usually set up in rows that are three to five centimeters deep, with row spacings between 50 to 210 centimeters.
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Maize farming in South Africa is dominated by large commercial farmers, who produce the majority of the country's maize crop. However, there are also many small-scale farmers, who produce a significant proportion of the country's maize. There are more than 10 000 small-scale and commercial farmers growing maize in South Africa. South Africa produced approximately 15 million metric tons of maize in 2021/2022, down from 16.3 the year before (a yield of 5.92t/ha). There are many different types of maize that are grown in South Africa, but the most common are white and yellow maize.
From 1997, the South African maize industry was no longer government subsidized. This deregularization shifted the economic framework from a national to a free-market climate. There is no price control, and producers are free to set their own prices and trade without restriction, within quality and hygiene standards.
South African maize farmers have traded regularly with countries internationally, receiving imports from the United States, Argentina, and Kenya. Exported maize goods are sent to countries in Africa such as Mozambique, Angola, and Zambia and internationally to Japan, Iran, and Venezuela. Maize farming in South Africa provides work for thousands of commercial farmers and their hired staff. In addition to maize being produced as a staple food substance, maize as a raw material is also a significant economic factor. Numerous industries including stock-feeding, wet milling, poultry, and dairy enterprises are dependent on maize.
The Department of Trade and Industry in conjunction with a Swiss company, the Buhler Group, have introduced a new technology in the form of a compact mobile mill to boost the maize industry in South Africa. The mill, part of the government's Industrial Policy Action Plan, is intended for small and medium millers as well as commercial maize farmers. This is an industrialization initiative that further aims to reduce the cost of maize meal for the population.
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Role of Maize in the South African Diet
In South Africa, maize is the predominant staple diet of a large section of the population. White corn, primarily processed into maize meal, is the staple grain for human consumption due to its affordability as a carbohydrate source. Yellow corn is predominantly used in the animal feed sector, where it serves as the primary ingredient in feed rations, particularly for the broiler industry.
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Challenges and Climate Change
Maize needs lots of water to thrive, and it needs it regularly, at the right time, and consistently. Most maize production in sub-Saharan Africa is rain-fed (as opposed to irrigated) and climate change is wreaking havoc with rainfall patterns. Often, rains come late or stop early or are intermittent. Imagine borrowing money to buy seeds, planting them at the start of the rainy season, and then watching your germinating crop wither and die as the rain stops falling at the crucial moment. This is the heartbreak regularly faced by millions of mostly poor farming families, and it poses a huge threat to food security.
In 2015 South Africa experienced the worst drought in 30 years. Many farmers lost whole crops and much of their livestock.
Drought in South Africa
Much progress has been made in developing drought resistant and improved hybrid seed varieties, and the trick now is to ensure that these make their way to the people who need them most. In countries like Central African Republic and Burundi, Concern teams organize “seed fairs”, to which financially-challenged farmers can bring pre-distributed vouchers and exchange them for the type and variety that suits them best. In countries like Kenya, we have been helping farmers to develop and access irrigation systems, which take some of the uncertainty out of planting.
Soil Management and Crop Rotation
Maize is hard on the soil - it's what’s described as a “heavy feeder”, and requires a large amount of nutrient uptake. Also, maize yield in sub-Saharan countries is generally low - about 20 percent of the average yield in “developed” countries.
The most basic and traditional way of dealing with this problem was to leave the land idle or “fallow” for a period of months or even years, to help it build back its nutrient content. That's obviously not a very productive use of a scarce commodity. But simple techniques like inter-cropping or crop rotation are both effective and efficient. Legumes - the collective term for beans and pulses - fix nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil, leaving it ready and able to handle a new maize crop. One aspect of Climate Smart Agriculture is the mulching of last season’s stalks, which break down over time and become a form of fertilizer.
Post-Harvest Management
As for post-harvest losses, one of the best ways to tackle that problem is to work with farmers to increase awareness on improved management practices and to help them develop better storage solutions for their precious crop, to protect it both from the elements and from pests.
Nutritional Considerations
Maize alone is not very nutritious, especially the white maize variety so popular in sub-Saharan Africa. The ubiquitous porridge that so many families rely on is undoubtedly very filling, but also lacks many of the essential nutrients that help young bodies and minds to develop in a healthy way. Stunting is a serious problem both for individuals and economies in Africa, robbing both of their full potential productivity and development. It's no coincidence that the prevalence of chronic child malnutrition often intersects with extreme poverty and heavy reliance on a single crop like maize.
Many families supplement their home-grown maize with market-purchased maize meal, which is often subsidized by governments and generally fortified with extra vitamins. The good news is that those extra nutrients so vital to the physical and cognitive development of young children can be produced at home and with relative ease.
Crops such as beans and pulses are packed with nutritional value, as are dark green leafy vegetables like kale and cabbage. Zucchini, moringa, tomatoes, amaranth, pumpkin, groundnuts - there’s a whole host of high-impact complementary foods that can be produced in a backyard or keyhole or sack garden and combined with maize to make a tasty and nutritious meal.
Market Dynamics and Future Outlook
Corn production in South Africa is positioned for continued growth in marketing year 2025-26 supported by stable planting area, higher anticipated yields and a slight shift to yellow corn two years after a drought-reduced crop, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.
Production is projected by the FAS to reach 16 million tonnes in 2025-26, up 4% from 15.4 million tonnes in 2024-25 and significant improvement from 13.4 million tonnes in 2023-24. Corn planting area will remain stable at 3 million hectares in 2025-26, spanning May 2026 to April 2027, due to declining corn prices.
The FAS made slight upward adjustments to its previous estimates for corn demand in 2024-25 and 2025-26, revising them to 14 million tonnes and 14.2 million tonnes, respectively. These adjustments reflect a modest growth rate compared to the final consumption figures for 2023-24. South Africa’s annual population growth is estimated at 1.3%, while economic growth remains sluggish, the FAS said.
Corn exports for 2024-25 are expected to be 1.5 million tonnes while FAS projects South Africa’s corn exports to increase by 13% in 2025-26, reaching 1.7 million tonnes, supported by the anticipated growth in production.
Improved harvests in neighboring countries, particularly Zimbabwe and Zambia, are expected to reduce regional demand for South Africa’s corn exports, especially white corn. However, South Africa has resumed yellow corn exports to Asian markets, including Vietnam and South Korea, which remain profitable destinations for South African corn.
Year-end stock levels are forecast to continue growing in 2025-26, reaching 1.2 million tonnes, which is sufficient to cover nearly six weeks of commercial use. In 2024-25, corn stocks are expected to recover significantly from the unusually low levels of 2023-24, growing by over 60% to 1.1 million tonnes.
The depletion of stocks during 2023-24 underscored the importance of reliable supply chains and the need for consistent production to meet both domestic and regional demand, the FAS said.
South Africa’s grain and oilseed storage capacity exceeds 20 million tonnes, with stocks primarily managed by producer-owned agribusinesses (formerly cooperatives), traders and processors.
Unlike many other southern African nations, the South African government exercises minimal intervention in the domestic corn market. As a result, the government does not maintain strategic corn reserves or impose regulatory requirements for specific stock levels.
Post forecasts that South Africa’s corn area will expand in marketing year 2024/25. An 18 percent drop in the corn crop of marketing year 2023/24, due to an El Niño-induced mid-summer drought, prompted higher local corn prices that will initiate expansion in the area to be planted with corn for marketing year 2024/25. Under normal conditions, South Africa should maintain its status as a net exporter of corn in marketing year 2024/25. Despite diminished production, South Africa is expected to export about 1.5 million metric tons of corn in marketing year 2023/24.
Applying the average commercial yield for the past three seasons of 5.1t/ha for white corn and 7.1t/ha for yellow corn delivers a production estimate of 15.2Mt for next year’s harvest. Add the subsistence production of around 600,000t, and the average yield falls back to 5.52t/ha for total output of 15.8Mt, 7.6pc lower than the 17.1Mt harvested earlier this year.
Corn yields have almost doubled in the past 20 years by adopting new production technologies, such as genetically engineered seed and more efficient and effective farming practices, including precision and conservation farming.
Based on the current production estimate, South Africa should maintain its status as a net exporter of corn next year, consolidating its position as a minor but consistent global supplier.
Domestic corn prices have declined by more than 20pc over the last year, much in line with the fall of global corn values. However, export competitiveness was supported by a depreciation in the value of the South African rand. Local corn is currently trading close to export parity values, indicating a solid exportable surplus in the local market.
South Africa Corn Production: Key Figures
The following table summarizes key data points related to South African corn production:
| Aspect | Data |
|---|---|
| 2021/2022 Production | Approximately 15 million metric tons |
| 2025/2026 Production (Projected) | 16 million tonnes |
| Planting Area (2025-26) | 3 million hectares |
| 2024/2025 Exports (Expected) | 1.5 million tonnes |
| 2025/2026 Exports (Projected) | 1.7 million tonnes |
| White Corn Use | Staple grain for human consumption |
| Yellow Corn Use | Animal feed sector |
