South African grain farmers face crop loss
Grain South Africa has warned that farmers in some grain producing areas face total crop failure because of the heat wave and a lack of rain.
Neels Ferreira, Grain SA’s chairperson, says grain
producers in the summer crop areas planted relatively late this season,
expecting good rains early this year. He says that over the past few weeks, the
crops in many areas have literally been scorched to death. Even if good rains
should fall soon, it’s too late to benefit many grain farmers.
producers in the summer crop areas planted relatively late this season,
expecting good rains early this year. He says that over the past few weeks, the
crops in many areas have literally been scorched to death. Even if good rains
should fall soon, it’s too late to benefit many grain farmers.
Ferreira
says the maize yield is expected to be almost 30% lower than the previous
season’s average yield of just over four tons per hectare. Other crops such as
sorghum, sunflower and soya beans are also likely to show a significant decrease
in yields.
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