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CHAPTER 4
in NAMPO’s inputs committee promoted co-operation between NOPO and NAMPO
even at an early stage.
Sunflower seed is exported
The exporting of 100 000 tons of sunflower seed was approved in the first semester
of 1996. This was the first opportunity since the early eighties that sunflower was
shipped fromSouth Africa. Because of themass-volume ratio the export of sunflower
was regarded as uneconomical, but the sharp drop in the rand/dollar exchange rate
and a strong demand in Europe made the export of sunflower profitable.
Implementation of the Marketing of Agricultural
Products Act: 1997
During 1996 the National Party withdrew from the Government of National Unity
and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr AI van Niekerk, vacated his position. The
governing party (ANC) decided to appoint Minister Hanekom as the new Minister
of Agriculture and Land Affairs. One of the first priorities of the new Minister was
to finalise the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (Act 47 of 1996).
The deregulation process of the oilseeds industry was completed in 1997 with
the phasing out of the Oilseeds Board on 30 September 1997. This was preceded
by extensive negotiations between role-players in the industry in preparation for
the business plan for the oilseeds industry that had to be submitted for approval
to the Minister of Agriculture.
The new legislation not only set new rules for the marketing of agricultural
products, but it was also the end of an era in which producers were able to
guide policy decisions through their involvement in the various control boards.
In terms of the Act all assets and reserves of the Oilseeds Board had to be trans-
ferred to the soon to be established Oilseeds Trust. From a producer perspective
the experience was that assets and reserves collected from producers through
statutory levies had in effect been alienated from producers by the new Marketing
Act. In future producers would be only one of many affected groups when
decisions about the employment of funds were made in the industry structures.
The Marketing Act thus also brought an end to the ability of industry organisations
to fund themselves through statutory levies.