SOUTH AFRICA (30 May)
Harvest of the 2003 main coarse grain crops, mainly maize, is well advanced. The fourth official crop forecast indicates a maize harvest of some 9.2 million tones, which is 9 percent or 855 000 tonnes lower than last year but still above average. The area planted increased slightly on 2002 but yields have been reduced by dry spells in northern parts of the maize belt. Exportable surpluses of maize are expected to remain around last year’s levels reflecting an increase in white maize production and a decline in that of yellow maize.
Planting of the 2003 wheat crop is about to start. Planting intentions point to a decline of 11 percent in the area planted to 841 000 hectares, in response to lower prices. Production is anticipated to be lower than in 2002.