SA has produced more maize in the 2011-2012 season than initially estimated‚ compared with the same period a year ago‚ the crop estimates committee (CEC) said on Thursday in its revised final production estimate report for the season.
The size of the commercial maize crop has been revised upwards by 2.92% to 11.830 million tons‚ from the final estimate issued on September 26.
White maize forecast was adjusted upwards by 3.6% to 6.747 million tons‚ while the yellow maize estimate rose 2.03% to 5.090 million tons.
The committee said the upward revision in the final maize crop was that yields in certain areas were estimated too low‚ while the impact of drought on summer crops was overestimated.
Maize is a significant input in a vast amount of food production.
In terms of other crops‚ Sunflower was 522‚000 tons‚ 0.97% less from last estimate on September 26. but soya-beans edged up 0.5% to settle at 650‚000 tons and groundnuts were 2.1% less to 59‚000 tons and sorghum settled at 135‚500 tons‚ 1.2% less from the previous estimate. - I-Net Bridge