[Editor’s note: More than 70% of corn grown in South Africa is genetically modified. So far, South Africa is the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa to approve GE crops.]
South African farmers are expected to reap a record 14.73 tonnes of maize this season [2017] with current harvests indicating robust yields because of good rains, a Reuters poll of five traders and market analysts showed….
The government’s Crop Estimates Committee (CEC), which will provide its fourth production forecast for the 2017 crop … is seen pegging the harvest at 14.73 million tonnes, up 89 percent from the 7.78 million tonnes realized [in 2016] when an El Nino-triggered drought hit yields and plantings.
“Harvesting is underway in many areas of South Africa with yields reportedly well above average, which confirms that we are in for a big crop this season,” said Wandile Sihlobo, an economist at the agricultural business chamber.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: South Africa’s 2017 maize crop seen almost doubling to record harvest