South Africa's maize harvest seen marginally lower than previous estimate

Electricity pylons of South Africa power utility Eskom are seen above a maize field in Mpumalanga province, north of Johannesburg, in this picture taken March 1, 2016. [Reuters]

South Africa’s maize harvest forecast is expected to be slightly lower than previously estimated as crop yields could fall in some regions due to unfavourable weather conditions, a Reuter’s poll of five analysts showed on Friday.

The government’s Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) is seen pegging the harvest at 13.11 million tonnes in its seventh estimate, down 0.7 percent from the 13.207 million tonnes the CEC estimated in July.