FAO predicts 30% drop in maize yield for Botswana

Thursday, May 07, 2015

Farmers working on their field.Pic.Kagiso Onkatswitse

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says maize yields from the 2014/15 farming season could be up to a third lower than the previous period, following poor rains and heatwave conditions that plagued farmers across the country.

According to the FAO’s early forecast released last week, Botswana could produce 25,000 tonnes of maize this season, down from 35, 000 tonnes the previous harvest.

The figures represent the earliest known indications of crop production for Botswana, in a season which the Agriculture Ministry has already said was characterised by “widespread total crop failure and stunted growth” due to the “prolonged dry spells and heatwaves”.

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FAO predicts 30% drop in maize yield for Botswana

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says maize yields from the 2014/15 farming season could be up to a third lower than the previous period, following poor rains and heatwave conditions that plagued farmers across the country.