STAT Communications Ag Market News

South Africa Beans Yields Sink

PRETORIA - Mar 30/16 - SNS -- There is growing pessimism about this year's yield prospects for South Africa's dry edible bean harvest, judging from the latest crop forecast from the South Africa Grain Information Service (SAGIS).

Seeded area ended up at 34,400 hectares, almost half last year's 64,400; while production is expected to plunge from 73,390 to just 38,195 metric tons (MT). This is down sharply from last month's 44,095 MT forecast.

Seedings are at their lowest level in over 30 years and under 40,000 for only the third time in that period. Similarly, this is only the third time during the past three decades that edible bean production has fallen under 40,000 MT.

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