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A 27% Decline In Maize Production Expected For 2017/2018 Season

Farmer's Weekly

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March 16, 2018

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has released an estimate of about 12,2 million tons for South Africa’s commercial maize crop for the current season, down 27% on the 16,8 million tons produced in 2016/2017.

- Sabrina Dean

A 27% Decline In Maize Production Expected For 2017/2018 Season

In its first production estimate for the season, the CEC also revised its area estimate for the 2017/2018 summer cropping season down to 2,3 million hectares, or 12,4% lower than the 2,6 million hectares planted the previous season. The area estimate only declined slightly month-on-month, by about 6 500ha.

CEC member Rona Beukes said this was based on both subjective and objective surveys conducted among farmers, as well as data obtained via Producer Independent Crop Estimation System (PISCES) flyovers.

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