South African maize farmers are expected to plant 18 percent less of the staple crop this season due to dry and hot weather along the western part of the maize belt, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. South Africa's Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) is expected to forecast the planted area at 2.159 million hectares, down from 2.629 million hectares planted last season when favourable weather conditions boosted yields, according to an average estimate of seven traders and analysts polled by Reuters.
The range of total maize estimates was 1.910 million to 2.430 million hectares. "The western regions of the country which largely produce white maize were unable to meet their planting intentions due to persistent dry and warm weather conditions," said Wandile Sihlobo, an economist at the agricultural business chamber. The average estimated from the poll pegs the crop at 1.148 million hectares of white maize, used for human consumption, and 1.012 million hectares of yellow maize used mainly in animal feed.
Yields in the North West and Free State provinces could also be impacted by hot and dry weather, analysts said.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.