South Africa: CEC releases area estimate and fifth production forecast of winter crops

On 19 December this year, the National Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) released its area estimate and fifth production forecast of winter crops for the 2023 production season. The CEC comprises of officials from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), provincial Departments of Agriculture, various Agricultural Research Council (ARC) institutes (Soil, Climate and Water; Small Grains Institute, and Grain Crops Institute), the Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) and Statistics SA. Winter cereal crop forecast The production forecast for wheat is 2,152 million tons, which is the same as the previous month's forecast. The area planted is estimated at 537 950ha, while the expected yield is 4t/ha. The expected production in the Western Cape is 1,131 million tons (53%), in the Northern Cape 310,000 tons (14%) and in the Free State 309,600 tons (14%). The estimated area estimate for wheat in the Western Cape is 365 000 a or 68%, 72 000ha or 13% in ...