All you need to know about Congress

February 2024

Regional meetings were held during January and February to share the Grain SA group of entities' focus areas for the year ahead. These topics will also be on the table at the 2024 Congress on 13 and 14 March. This event offers a wonderful opportunity for members, government officials, role-players, academics, partners and stakeholders to interact at NAMPO Park near Bothaville in the Free State.

WHAT IS THE CONGRESS? 
The Grain SA Congress is the annual general meeting of members and is the highest authority of Grain SA. The Congress is convened annually on a date and place determined by the Executive. 

The function of Congress is the consideration and discussion of the annual financial statements, auditor's report and the report of the Grain SA Executive. A chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and the Executive are elected during the proceedings. The Executive is the highest authority when Congress is not in session, and subject to the control and general policy of the congress. 

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF CONGRESS?  
The function of Congress is:

• The consideration and discussion of the annual financial statements, auditor's report and the report of the Executive of Grain SA.
• The election of the chairperson and two vice-chairpersons.
• The election of the Executive.
• The appointment of an auditor and the approval of his fees.
• Handling of other special matters to be discussed.

HOW ARE DELEGATES ELECTED TO CONGRESS? 
Although many people believe that the Executive and its management committee are the highest authority in Grain SA, it is actually Congress. This is why it is so important for members to carefully consider who to nominate as delegates from their region and who will best represent farmers’ interests at Congress. 

Members of PGP pay annual membership fees which give them access to the privileges and benefits produced by the organisation. Commercial producer members also pay a commodity levy on all grain and oilseeds produced to Grain SA. They earn the right to influence decisions of the body through a constituted and democratic process.

At the regional meetings before Congress, delegates from the different regions will be nominated to attend. A delegate must be a bona fide farmer producing grain to the market – a person who knows farming issues in his region, who is able to understand the business of the organisation and who will speak up for the farmers’ interests. 

Delegates have the responsibility of voting on very important matters which influence the activities of the organisation in terms of work done, leadership, and even changes in the constitution. When chosen, delegates are informed of their rights and responsibilities when they are elected to represent their farming communities.

The farmer who attends Congress as a delegate must be a leader in his/her community, someone who will be your voice at the general meeting and who will return home to tell farmers in their region what was discussed and decided there. 

WHEN SHOULD LEVIES BE PAID-UP? 
Membership fees and the commodity levy (if applicable) are paid annually for the period from 1 March to the end of February, when the financial year for membership fees and levies ends. The status of membership is determined by the payments received until the end of February that precedes Congress.

Only paid-up members can attend the Grain SA Congress as voting delegates, and they also qualify for free entry to Grain SA's NAMPO Harvest Day or other regional based events, like NAMPO Cape.

WHAT ARE THE BREAKAWAY SESSIONS? 
All producers attended separate breakaway sessions, where a variety of matters regarding different commodities – maize, winter cereals, sunflower/sorghum, soybean and groundnut – are discussed. This is a valuable opportunity where the focus is on crop-specific issues.

Big smiles from the winners

On 27 October, John Deere Financial played a significant commu­nity upliftment role in Lichtenburg, North West, by handing over a brand new John Deere 5075E MFWD tractor to William Raphoto, the 2023 
PGP/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year.

The handover ceremony was marked by heartfelt sentiments from William, emphasising that the tractor is a symbol of triumph and hard work. To him, it represents the culmination of perseverance, dedication and unwavering determination. 

Grain SA celebrated excellence in grain production at its annual gala awards evening, held on 20 October 2023. The winning farmers who were announced at the Day of Celebration in September were also honoured at this prestigious event. Here they are all dressed up in their formal attire.

William Raphoto receives the keys of a brand new tractor.

1. 1. Jurie Mentz with Portia Msibi, the Subsistence Farmer of the Year.
2. Graeme Engelbrecht (Dundee) and Nkosinathi Hadebe, the Smallholder Farmer of the Year.
3. Another winner from Graeme’s region, Philani Khoza, the Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year, with Derek Mathews, chairman of Grain SA.
4. Du Toit van der Westhuizen (Lichtenburg) with William Raphoto.

Roadshow empowers farmers

During September and October 2023, the team of the Research and Policy Centre of Grain SA hosted roadshows in Mpumalanga, the Free State and North West. The aim of the roadshows was to engage with producers on topics that are current on farm level, to create awareness about the findings of their research network and to showcase the research initiatives. Absa and John Deere sponsored these events.

Scientific information was shared to aid farmers with decision-making and get their inputs to ensure that the research is relevant. Various stakeholders from the agricultural industry also participated in this event. The theme for the roadshows – Climate, Agronomy and Plant Health – was based on the Grain SA research consortia and current research initiatives, as well as the challenges currently experienced by producers.

Attendees of the Research Roadshow in Lichtenburg.

The Syngenta Seedcare team gives a seed treatment demonstration.

Publication: February 2024

Section: Pula/Imvula