India rice export ban no threat to SA, says expert
Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo says the issues around the global supply of wheat and rice pose no threat to South Africa's food security.
He's been commenting on the decision by the world's biggest rice exporter India to ban some overseas sales of non-basmati rice.
It's a move that could drive international prices even higher.
It comes on top of the collapse in Ukraine grain exports to Africa after Moscow's withdrawal of a Black Sea pact.
Sihlobo admits the sudden ban by India was an unexpected move.
"We are sitting with a good supply for the foreseeable future. These things present an upside risk of prices, but it is not something the consumer can see when they go to their shelve.
"There is always a lag between the changes of farmer prices and retail prices - a lag of about three months, so even that lag happens if there is a spending increase at a farm level price and at the moment, we don't think that it is strong enough to actually be able to appear at a retail level."
