The South African Department of Agriculture in 2004 indicated interest in looking into the possibility of rice production in South Africa. The then Director General of the department hinted at a meeting that a feasibility study would assist the department in taking decisions on whether to promote this crop or not. At another meeting between the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Department of Agriculture, again in passing, the then Minister of Agriculture made a comment in passing that we cannot pretend and think that South Africans are stuck with “pap”(Maize porridge) and bread. This was during the time when maize and bread prices were becoming unaffordable to the majority of the South African citizens. Actually, rice was some alternative for most households until the prices of maize and rice were studied and pegged by the Government.

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Written by Prof Phindile Lukhele-Olorunju
Director: Research at Africa Institute of South Africa