South Africa Edible Bean Crop Slips
VANCOUVER - May 20/10 - SNS -- South Africa continued to reduce the forecast size of this year's dry edible bean harvest, with the fourth estimate of the 2009-10 summer harvest dropping expected output almost 3.8% from the previous forecast to 57,850 metric tons (MT).
The South Africa Grain Information Service (SAGIS) blamed the reduction on lower than expected yields. Seeded area is up marginally over last year, rising 0.7% from 43,800 to 44,100 hectares, but output is down 13.7%.
The most important dry edible bean producing area is Vrystaat/Free State, where production is forecast at 15,200 MT from 16,000 hectares, versus 28,800 MT from 18,000 hectares last year.
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