A beginner's guide to maize production

Maize is the most widely planted grain crop in South Africa and a critical contributor to the country's food security. Linda Piegl looks at the basics of maize cultivation and the resources available to farmers for employing the best management practices in order to ensure successful production.

-  Linda Piegl

South Africa is the largest maize producer in Africa, a leading global producer and a key exporter of the grain within Southern Africa. Over the past three decades, the country's maize yields have more than doubled as a result of the adoption of genetically modified (GM) cultivars and advancements in farming practices, including precision and conservation agriculture.

The crop is extensively cultivated across the country, with the Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West accounting for the highest production volumes. White maize is primarily grown for human consumption, while yellow maize is mainly used for animal feed. Today, the majority of white maize planted in South Africa consists of GM varieties.

Given the crop's essential role in food security and its strong market demand, maize cultivation continues to attract emerging and established farmers.

The first and often daunting step in maize production is cultivar selection. Cultivars differ in characteristics, each having a particular adaptability and yield potential that must be matched to the conditions of a specific production area.

CHOOSING BETWEEN CULTIVARS

Farmers can choose between GM and non-GM cultivars; GM varieties, such as Bt maize, offer protection against pests or tolerance to glyphosate, making weed control more effective.

“Whether you use GM or non-GM maize seed, the yield potential remains the same for maize seed in the same category,” explains Pannar seed agent Caiphas Muyambo in an article on Seedlink.co.za.

The most important factors for cultivar selection are as follows:

Adaptability, stability, and yield potential.