The 2016 total maize harvest in SA, the world’s biggest producer of the white variety after Mexico, fell 22%, the smallest crop since 2007, as an El Nino-induced drought damaged crops for a second year. Local farmers produced 7.78-million tonne in 2016, Marda Scheepers, a spokesperson for the Crop Estimates Liaison Committee, said on Thursday. This is less than the 9.9-million tonnes reaped in 2015 and 2.8% more than the median estimate of 7.57-million tonnes by four analysts in a Bloomberg survey on February 3. SA’s rainfall in 2015 was the lowest since records started in 1904, damaging crops and boosting prices, and the country became a net importer of the grain in 2016 for the first time since 2008. While precipitation in 2016 was also poor, above-average showers in the past three months have given relief to growers, with the Vaal Dam, which supplies water to Johannesburg and surrounding areas, reaching its highest level in 15 months, the government said on January 17. SA is the ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.