Question NW2113 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
22 August 2017 - NW2113
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
What scientific evidence does his department have of yields obtained in the (a) research stations and (b) fields managed by farmers with regard to the tonnage of maize per kilogram of seed obtained from the (i) conventional and (ii) genetically modified hybrids?
Reply:
a) (i) (ii) Yield levels from research stations for conventional varieties range between 2.56 (under severe moisture stress); 5.93 under moderate stress and 11.53 tonnes/ha under optimum conditions.
b) (i) (ii) Yield levels from farmers’ fields for conventional varieties range from 1.14 to 5.79 tonnes/ha depending on the level of management and stresses experienced by the maize crop. Genetically modified hybrids with the drought trait have not yet been deployed in smallholder farmer’s fields.