Drought conditions mar maize production’s final estimate

The final production estimate for white and yellow maize has gone up by 1,1% and 1% respectively, according to the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).

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This translates to 4,7 million tons of white maize and 5,2 million tons of yellow maize.

The expected yield for white maize was 3,25t/ha and 4,35t/ha for yellow maize.

Sunflower was planted to 2 652 850ha with a final estimate of 660 900t. The previous forecast was 656 800t.

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The area estimate for soybeans was 687 300ha with a final estimate of 1 059 850t. This was up from the previous forecast of 1 041 600 tons.

Groundnuts, which were planted to 58 000ha, remained unchanged at 56 675t; while sorghum’s final estimate was up from the previous forecast of 114 700t to 116 500 tons.

The expected dry beans crop remained unchanged at 73 390t.

Grain SA economist Wandile Sihlobo told Farmer’s Weekly that while there had been a “slight increase” in the expected final production for maize, SA was “still sitting in a difficult position” in terms of maize supply.

He was referring to the drought conditions which wreaked havoc on maize production and other crops