What are the factors that influence production of maize in South Africa?

What are the factors that influence production of maize in South Africa?

The three main factors are the exchange rate, supply and demand fundamentals and trade. Using the 2017/2018 marketing season as the form of measure, we can see that price movements were mainly reacting to these three factors.

How does drought influence the production of maize in South Africa?

Due to high demand for white maize, it will be imported from various countries to meet the demands. Maize prices have also increased to a record high due to the decrease in production. Livestock farmers are also feeling the pinch, due to lack of feed for their animals.

What is the most important production area of maize in South Africa?

Free State was the province with the highest production in all nine states with approximately 44.7 percent of the overall production. The lowest state was Western Cape producing 34 thousand maize.

What leads to an increase in the production of maize?

Maize production has increased the most because of its greater adaptation to different ecological systems and strong demand for bioethanol and animal feed and for the production of sweeteners and other nonfood industrial products (i.e., biodegradable packaging materials).

How much maize is produced in South Africa?

Approximately 8,0 million tons of maize grain are produced in South Africa annually on approximately 3,1 million ha of land. Half of the production consists of white maize, for human food consumption.

Why is maize so important to the world?

Maize is an important cereal crops in the world. It provides staple food to many populations. In developing countries maize is a major source of income to farmers among whom many are resource- poor. Maize cultivation in the world is limited by diseases which cause grain loss of about 11% of the total production.

How do you increase maize yield?

Spacing, planting density and rotation with other crops help increase maize yield by minimizing disease, pest and weed incidence. Weed control is essential to ensure a good, competitive start and pest and disease control will minimize damage to root and productive leaf area.

Why is maize important to South Africa?

Maize is the most important grain crop in South Africa, being both the major feed grain and the staple food for the majority of the South African population. This is because maize also serves as a raw material for manufactured products such as paper, paint, textiles, medicine and food.

How much maize does South Africa produce?

In 2019/2020, the production of maize was approximately 15.1 million metric tons….Production of maize in South Africa from 2000 to 2020 (in 1,000 metric tons)

Characteristic Total maize production in thousand metric tons
2019/2020 15,120
2018/2019 11,824
2017/2018 13,104
2016/2017 17,551

In which season maize is grown?

In India, maize is traditionally grown in monsoon (Kharif) season, which is accompanied by high temperature (<35° C) and rainfall. However, with the development of new cultivars and appropriate production technology, winter cultivation of maize has emerged as a viable alternative.

In which month does maize grow?

It is a Kharif crop and thus it grows best in the rainy season. In India, the rainy season starts in the month of June and ends in the month of September. Thus, maize is grown from June to September in India.

How did maize come to South Africa?

Maize first arrived on the African coast during the seventeenth century. It was initially introduced by the Portuguese to supply their trading forts, but the crop was quickly adopted by African farmers due to its high energy yield, its low labor requirements, and its short growing season.

How does fire affect the production of maize?

Fire is often used to clear the land for maize production even though this method of clearing land causes the soil to be nutrient poor. Also, any fires that occur during the growing season will damage the crop and decrease the harvest. What is India’s rank in maize production?

Which is the largest maize producer in the world?

South Africa is one of the world’s largest maize producers. Maize production contributes to a 36 percent majority of the gross value of South Africa’s field crops. What grain has the highest level of worldwide production?

Which is the most important grain in South Africa?

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important grain crop in South Africa and is produced throughout the country under diverse environments. Successful maize production depends on the correct application of production inputs that will sustain the environment as well as agricultural production.

How much water does a maize plant need?

Maize needs 450 to 600 mm of water per season, which is mainly acquired from the soil moisture reserves. About 15,0 kg of grain are produced for each millimetre of water consumed. At maturity, each plant will have consumed 250 l of water. The total leaf area at maturity may exceed one square metre per plant.