Farmers will likely harvest 12.42-million tonnes of maize in 2018, which is nearly 2% higher than the last estimate, released in February.Still, the maize harvest will be 26% smaller than the 2017 crop, which was the highest ever produced in SA at 16.82-million tonnes, the crop estimates committee said in a statement on Wednesday.Grain prices have been relatively stable of late, after falling sharply in 2017 as a result of the bumper harvest and a stronger rand.Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago noted on Wednesday that the monetary policy committee no longer considered food inflation a major risk to the inflation outlook. Food inflation moderated to an annual rate of 4% in February‚ from 4.6% in January‚ reflecting lower grain prices.Free State, Mpumalanga and North West are expected to produce 81% of the 2018 crop.The area planted with maize was increased by 16,150ha to 2.319-million hectares.Production for sunflower seed is estimated to be 749,205 tonnes, which is 2.42% higher...
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