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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
August 3, 2003
South Africa’s 2003/04 winter wheat crop experienced below normal rainfall during the planting season, especially affecting the main wheat region located in the southwestern portion of Western Cape province, known as the Swartland area extending from Malmesbury to Vredendal. Below normal rainfall from April thru July, 2003 severely stressed vegetation conditions in the Western Cape province, as indicated by the figure below. Wheat in the Western Cape is typically planted from mid-April to mid-June, and below normal rainfall during this period may severely reduce this year’s yield potential.
In addition, this year’s wheat area planted is down due to low wheat prices and a new grading system which caused farmers to plant less wheat this year. Reduced planted area, combined with the dry conditions in the Western Cape, indicates wheat production may be lower than last year and South Africa will have to import wheat again. Last year, South Africa imported 700,000-1,000,000 tons as recently reported by FAS’ Pretoria office (refer to FAS/South Africa GAIN report of July 2003).
Unsteady and erratic rainfall in the Western Cape often produces wide variations in wheat yields and quality, with South Africa having a surplus of wheat during very good rainfall years and shortages of wheat occurring most of the time. The Western Cape and Free State provinces typically produce three-quarters of the crop, with approximately 85 percent of total wheat planted area cultivated under rainfed conditions and 15 percent of the crop irrigated. Most of South Africa's wheat is produced in the Western Cape, with the southwestern part of the Western Cape (known as Swartland and Rûens) being one of the most important wheat producing region in South Africa.
Low soil moisture conditions in the Western Cape may also reduce barley yields, which is mainly produced in the Western Cape under rainfed conditions. Barley is primarily produced in South Africa for malt in brewing beer, and low quality or unsuitable malting barley is used as animal feed. During years of poor rainfall and low yields, barley is imported to compensate for malting shortfalls.
South Africa GAIN Report (July, 2003)
NDVI Analysis for South Africa's Wheat near the Cape
Rainfall Analysis for South Africa's Wheat Season
Landcover (and Cropland) for South Africa
Crop Explorer for Southern Africa
