THE reality of the nation’s drought was brought home with a vengeance on Wednesday when the first imported shipment of fodder arrived at the Port of Richards Bay from Argentina.
The 18 500 tons of yellow maize arrived aboard the MV IDC Falcon at berth 606 and will be stored in the Ensign bulk silos and warehouse in Alton before being transported to various animal feed manufacturers within Southern and Central Africa
According to a Transnet Port Terminal (TPT) spokesman, Richards Bay was chosen owing to its close proximity to end users and available capacity to offload the maize.
‘TPT has heeded to the call from government to assist with the import of maize as a result of the severe drought situation.
‘We have created capacity and anticipate being able to increase import of agricultural products including maize.
‘As a State-owned entity, we are very proud to be responding to Government’s call to assist in the importing of agricultural products,’ said Acting GM: KZN Bulk, Break-bulk & Cars Operations, Panaso Ndlela.
‘We know that maize is in high demand, due to the drought which is distressing our country presently,
‘This first shipment is going to be a success, mainly because it will be monitored closely by environmental regulatory bodies who will substantiate that there are no dust emissions from this operation.’
