Farmers plant more maize as prices go up

SA farmers are expected to plant more maize this coming season.

Farmers are expected to plant more maize this coming season. This has been inspired by higher local maize prices. Reports reveal that there is widespread expectation of more planting as farmers take advantage of the higher prices.

Grain South Africa says the farmers are also relieved and excited about the recent rain that has been falling across the country.

Farmers are likely to plant over 2.8 million hectares of maize this season compared with only 2.6 million hectares last season. This ranges from 2,7 million hectares to 3.1 million hectors. The favourable weather conditions are said to have played a major part in the traders’ predictions of higher levels of planting this season.

Dry spell
Since late last year, farmers have suffered one of the driest spells in years, taking a heavy toll on maize and wheat output for the 2006/07 crop. Grain South Africa Chairperson Nels Ferreira says more rain is needed to realise these prices.

However, some farmers have a different view on maize pricing. According to a farmer and agricultural expert in Rustenburg area, Basie Ntsimane, farmers must not plant too much maize as this could make prices to decline resulting in the farmers running at a loss.