of the drought, five provinces were declared disaster areas in 2015. Although the agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP in 2014 amounted to only 2,5%4, its influence on food security – in terms of availability as well as affordability – must never be underestimated. Figure 3 – December SPI and dryland maize production areas. (Source: BFAP, 2016) As can be seen in Figure 3, the Free State (42%), Mpumalanga (30,7%) and North West (19,4%) provinces typically produce 92,1% of the total South African maize production5. (This area is also known as the Maize Triangle, which stretches roughly between the towns of Mahikeng (North West), Zastron (Free State) and Machadodorp 4 Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy. (2016). Policy Brief on the 2015/2016 Drought. Available at http://www.bfap.co.za/documents/research%20reports/BFAP_Drought%20Policy%20Brief_5%20Febr uary%202016.pdf. 5 Ibid.