# Southern Africa drought: Impacts on maize production | IFPRI

> Severe drought in Southern Africa since late 2023, fueled by El Niño, has sharply cut maize yields and triggered disaster declarations in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Large stocks from two above-trend harvests may cushion food security impacts, and the article notes prospects for better weather in the coming crop year.

- Date: 2024-04-10 · published 2024-04-10T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region Southern Africa · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/30648-southern-africa-drought-impacts-on-maize-production-ifpri
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Lost maize output in Southern Africa raises regional import needs and supports global maize prices, though carry-in stocks limit the near-term price effect.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2025-01-29 | [Drought, low prices to drop Mexico’s grain production  \| World Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26570-drought-low-prices-to-drop-mexico-s-grain-production-world-grain.md) | +1.0% | -1.0% |
| CORN | 2019-01-25 | [Smaller acreage for maize in South Africa - prices rise](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61122-smaller-acreage-for-maize-in-south-africa-prices-rise.md) | +0.9% | +1.4% |
| CORN | 2022-10-21 | [How might La Niña impact 2022/23 Argentinian maize production? Grain market daily \| AHDB](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39026-how-might-la-nina-impact-2022-23-argentinian-maize-production-grain-market.md) | -0.9% | -1.4% |
| CORN | 2020-08-19 | [Derecho, drought impacts on Iowa corn crop seen in crop tour](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51451-derecho-drought-impacts-on-iowa-corn-crop-seen-in-crop-tour.md) | +2.3% | +8.3% |
| CORN | 2024-04-08 | [GEOGLAM CROP MONITOR SPECIAL ALERTS - SOUTHERN AFRICA EL NIñO INDUCED DROUGHT - GEOGLAM - Group on Earth Observations Global Agriculture Monitoring](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30652-geoglam-crop-monitor-special-alerts-southern-africa-el-nino-induced-drought.md) | -1.2% | -1.0% |

## Sources

- ifpri.org: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/southern-africa-drought-impacts-maize-production/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.