date:Feb 18, 2014
ightly above last years bumper level.
Harvesting of the 2013 maize crop was completed by October 2013.
Latest official estimates point to a harvest of 911 127 tonnes, some 4 per cent below last years level. The decrease in production is mainly attributed to a 6 per cent decline in the planted area, as a result of farmers switching to rice crop. There is a decrease in area planted to maize for the third consecutive year in row.
Overall, the cereal output for 2013 is estimated at 10.3 million t