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CHAPTER 1
The main objectives with the research were to develop wheat and other winter
cereal cultivars that would provide the maximum yield in the different climatic
regions of South Africa, as well as to develop cultivars that would produce high-
quality grain, particularly with a view to the baking industry.
Since the establishment of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in 1990 this
body has conducted considerable research with respect to wheat, including the
development of varieties producing a high yield and with good milling and bak-
ing properties, as well as varieties with resistance to diseases like Russian wheat
aphid and wheat stem rust.
The need for suitable wheat seed led to the Wheat Board starting as far back as 1947
to establish a certified seed scheme in which classified cultivars of winter cereals
were included. Suitable seed breeders were identified who reproduced and cleaned
small quantities of seed under the supervision of the Wheat Board before distribut-
ing the seed. This certified seed was supplied to the agents of the Wheat Board and
to producers to enable them to reproduce their own seed.
The agents of the Wheat Board, which were mainly agricultural co-operatives,
started reproducing seed on a larger scale and building their own seed schemes.
Later Sensako started to reproduce seed on a large scale from mother seed
obtained from the Department of Agriculture’s Technical Services.
Barley and oats
Before deregulation in 1997 the marketing of barley and oats was, like that of
wheat, controlled by the Wheat Board in a single-channel system in terms of the
Winter Cereals Scheme. Under this scheme the Wheat Board was the only buyer
and seller of barley and oats at set prices. As in the case of wheat, barley and oats
could only be imported on the basis of a permit issued by the Wheat Board.
The laboratory of the Small Grain Institute.