Radio Islam News Team – 20/11/2015

THE 2016 rooibos harvest could be the worst in years and prices could rise by as much as 90%.

Rooibos farmers in the Cederberg and Bokkeveld areas, in the Western Cape, and some parts of the Northern Cape have received little to no rain between July and August, which is the sector’s planting period.

Spokesman Ernest du Toit said: “Exports will decrease as a result of supply constraints, which will drive up the price of rooibos‚ making it very expensive.

“As things stand‚ there will not be enough volume to service both the local and export demand‚ therefore processors would need to prioritise sales between local industry demands and exports.”

As rooibos reserves had already diminished‚ the council predicted that consumers could expect to see a sharp rise in shelf prices before the middle of 2016.