Agriculture
Low maize yield will have spillover effect─── SABRINA DEAN 16:56 Wed, 25 Feb 2015
Bloemfontein - The realities of the state of the maize crop revealed by farmers attending a quarterly workshop on the prospects for agricultural markets at the University of the Free state this morning, is painting a far bleaker picture than anticipated.
Professor Johan Willemse told the group that with a calculation based on a 40% lower yield in white maize than last year, there will not be stock left by this time next year.
However, farmers in the audience listed anticipated damage ranging from 40% to 65%, with some farmers in the Licthenburg area indicating the chance of zero harvest.
Willemse says the impact of the damaged crop will spill over into other agriculture sectors and place strain on food security:
'Professor Johan Willemse explains the spillover effect'
The Crop Estimates Committee is meanwhile expected to meet tomorrow morning before releasing its final revised area planted statistics and first production estimates for the 2015 grain harvest.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
'Professor Johan Willemse explains the spillover effect' :
