THE country’s 1999/00 has been estimated at 9,19-million tons, up from last month’s figure of 9,18-million tons, the national crops body said in its third estimate. The white maize crop — due to be harvested from May — was put at 5,51-million tons and yellow maize production was seen at 3,68-million tons, the National Crop Estimates Committee said. This compared to the March estimate of 5,50-million tons of white maize and 3,67-million tons of yellow. Last season South Africa produced 7,1-million tons of commercial maize. The crops’ body said that emerging — mainly black — farmers would produce an additional 443329 tons of maize.