/ 23 May 2000

ZIM BUMPER MAIZE FORECASTS MAY BE REVISED

THE Zimbabwean government said on Monday that it expectes Zimbabwe to produce nearly 2,2-million mt of maize in the current farming year, up from the 1,5-million mt produced in 1999. However, a spokeswoman for the Commercial Grain Producers Association in Harare said that “at best” only 1,7-million mt of maize will be produced. She said the 2,2-million is the official estimate by the government’s crop forecasting committee. The committee is likely to meet towards the end of June to revise the figures.