With 40% of the maize harvest completed, the yield is expected to average 3.1 tonnes per hectare, Feldman said.

Last year, the maize yield was 6.1 tonnes per hectare, and the harvest was close to 6.5 million tonnes.

He noted that maize harvests are "significantly lower" across Europe, which will require imports, mainly from Ukraine.

He added that local feed companies and other industries are already importing 200,000 tonnes of grain and oil seed crops per month.

The Ministry of Agriculture official said that mandatory export reporting rules would remain in force to ensure secure supply.