FARMERS in the Western Cape will import 500000 tons of yellow maize this season for animal feed, buyers said on Tuesday. A spokesman for the Western Cape Maize Buyers Association said that it has begun importing from Argentina, and is likely to ship in more than usual due to low availability locally. The Western Cape imports yellow maize annually as the hefty transport costs of bringing grain from South Africa’s central growing regions usually outstrips the cost of shipping from overseas. The province’s consumption is around 600000 tons a year. “We are importing more than usual because local maize is not freely available … It is also more expensive,” the spokesman said.