COVID-19: MAIZE PRODUCE SET TO FALL OVER 8%

MBABANE – The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse effects on the current 2020/21 planting season.

This is detailed in the 2020 Economic Review Report that has just been released by the Central Bank of Eswatini.  The limited operational status of a majority of firms and markets in South Africa is believed to be resulting in shortages in the availability of farming inputs for local maize farmers in the 2020/21 planting season.

Production

“Furthermore, seasonal information and field updates indicate that maize production during the 2020/21 crop season will be eight -12 per cent below the previous year’s produce.
“The above notwithstanding, however, production is expected to benefit from maize winter cropping to be initiated with contracted farmers coupled with the anticipated implementation of the food security project that is aimed at increasing production to sustainable levels for the country,” reads the report in part.

During the 2019/20 season, the area under maize cultivation improved by 10 per cent to 77.2 thousand hectares compared to 70.2 thousand hectares in the previous season. Maize production was negatively affected by persistent pests (such as the fall armyworm) coupled with erratic weather conditions, which were characterised by dry-spells in the middle of the season. As a result, maize production fell by 9.8 per cent to record 86 548 metric tonnes in the 2019/20 crop season compared to 95 988 metric tonnes recorded in the 2018/19 season.
The fall in local maize production meant that the country fell short of meeting its consumption requirement of approximately 130 000 metric tonnes.

According to the Vulnerability Assessment Report of 2020, the country was able to provide for approximately 53.3 per cent of its cereal gross consumption requirement, which is estimated at 162 320 metric tonnes. To cover for the massive shortfall in maize production, maize imports by the National Maize Corporation (NMC) from neighbouring South Africa rose from 19 033 metric tonnes in the previous season to 38 158 metric tonnes in the 2019/20 marketing season.

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