Maize forecast higher for 2013

SA's maize output is expected to be 12.354m tons this year‚ up 4.43% from 11.830m tons last year‚ the crop estimates committee said on this week in its first production estimate report.

The white maize forecast was up 0.14% to 6.749m tons‚ while the yellow variety was 10.11% higher at 5.6m tons.

The area planted to maize was virtually unchanged at 2.781m/ha‚ from 2.780m/ha estimated last month.

Favourable crop conditions‚ along with higher spot prices‚ were the main reasons for the increase in production estimate‚ the committee said.

In terms of other crops‚ the sunflower output estimate was up 19.58% to 624‚210 tons‚ while the area planted was 504‚500ha. The soya beans output forecast lifted 40.67% to 914‚350 tons‚ while area planted was 515‚000ha.

Groundnuts were up 9.49% to 64‚600 tons‚ while the area planted was 46‚900ha.

The sorghum output estimate lifted 33.98% to 181‚544 tons‚ while the area planted was 62‚620ha.

The dry beans estimate was up 16.36% to 55‚500 tons‚ while the area planted came in at 43‚550ha.