THE JOURNEY FROM WHITE MAIZE TO PAP

Maize is the most important field crop produced in South Africa. As the second largest maize producer in Africa, South Africa accounts for around 20% of maize production on the continent. The maize industry plays a significant role in South Africa’s economy, with harvest and production levels having an enormous impact on economic growth and food security. While yellow maize is used primarily to feed livestock, white maize is the staple food for the majority of our country’s population, with many South Africans relying on it as a primary source of nutrition.

Approximately 2.5 million hectares of maize are planted in South Africa per year. This figure is mainly comprised of hybrid maize, and a small portion of the annual crop is planted with open-pollinated maize cultivars by small-scale farmers. Many South African maize producers have adopted genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids, which comprise an estimated 85% of the hybrid maize planted annually. This high adoption rate has allowed South African farmers to make significant gains in productivity which have led to a greater supply of maize, increased producer profitability, and decreased the negative environmental impact of maize production. Due to advancements in genetic breeding technologies and improved agronomic management and practices, the average maize yield has increased from an average of 3 tons per hectare in the early 2000s to more than 5 tons per hectare in 2022.

According to the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), the production of white maize was 8 600 million tons in 2020/2021, and the average yield was 5,09 t/ha. The total demand (domestic plus exports) for white maize is projected at about 7 987 500 tons, and the total domestic demand is projected at approximately 7 337 500 tons. This includes:

• 4 850 000 tons processed for human consumption
• 2 450 000 tons processed for animal and industrial consumption
• 11 500 tons for gristing (grain separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding)
• 12 000 tons held back by producers
• 9 000 tons released to end-consumers
• And a balancing figure of 5 000 tons (net receipts and net dispatches)

A projected export quantity of 150 000 tons of processed products and 500 000 tons of white whole maize is estimated for exports for the 2022/23 marketing season.

Human consumption
Maize is consumed as a staple food in the majority of South African households. Mieliepap (a maize porridge also known as maize meal) is a staple breakfast and is often also consumed for lunch and supper. 38% of the maize produced in South Africa is used for human consumption, and the average South African consumes about 81kg of white maize meal per year. The production of maize meal is derived from a dry milling process used to produce flour and maize grits. The percentage of germ removed during extraction and the size of their fractions influences the grading, composition, and use of the end product.

Maize meal that has the least germ extracted is labeled unsifted, and as the extraction rates increase, it is classified as sifted, special, and super maize meal. South Africans generally prefer the special and super grades, and as a result, most of the bigger millers have stopped producing unsifted and sifted maize meal. To qualify as super fine, 80% of the meal should pass through a 0.3 mm sieve, and for super maize meal, 90% of the meal should pass through a 1.4 mm sieve. Braaipap is made from a courser-grade maize meal and is commonly served as a side dish at a South African braai.

Maize meal is also used to produce maize chips and other snack products. Other by-products of maize are oil and animal feed.

Grit fractions are used as hominy grits (dried maize that has been made soft to remove the outer part of the grain), then crushed and cooked. Examples of grits are hominy grits, samp, imitation rice, and cornflakes. Grits are also used in the production of beer.

Maize flour (<0.2 mm) is particularly valuable as an ingredient for cooking sauces, soups, baby food, cookies, biscuits, and ice cream cones.

Maize meal is a critical foodstuff for South African consumers, and as such maize producers and maize milling entrepreneurs play a valuable role in meeting this demand.