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CHAPTER 4
resolutions for this purpose. The sunflower, soybean and groundnuts working
groups handled these matters within the structures of Grain SA after unification.
Motion for dissolution of NOPO and concluding the Congress
In terms of the guidelines of the charter a motion for the conclusion of the
activities of NOPO was submitted to the Congress. The Congress passed the
motion unanimously.
Various votes of thanks were made, after which Congress was concluded with
a prayer by Mr Adriaan Ferreira of Hoopstad.
Support to developing oilseeds producers from 1996
During its existence NOPO made important and valuable contributions to the
developing agricultural sector, which were continued and expanded in Grain SA
after unification.
The NOPO development model via a regional office with involvement with devel-
oping producers in a certain area was implemented with great success in other
areas too after the founding of Grain SA. NOPO started developing agriculture
long before it became a buzz word in agriculture because it was the right thing to
do. The action was also driven by leaders in NOPO’s Executive to whom it was a
passion to act as mentors.
NOPO’s involvement in this regarded is discussed in Chapter 8, which focuses
on developing agriculture in the grain and oilseeds industries.
Involvement in the oilseeds industry
Before the establishment of Grain SA, NOPO agreed with the industry structures
to offer secretarial services to the trust (OPDT), the Oilseed Advisory Committee,
the research priority committee and the forums as a transitional measure.
The secretarial services to the forums were in time transferred to other service
providers so that the producer representatives could take part in debates without
reservations. After the establishment of Grain SA it was decided that continued
secretarial services would be provided to the Oilseed Advisory Committee and
research priority committee as an interim measure. A full-time administrator
(Mr Gerhard Keun) was appointed by the oilseeds industry in 2000 to take over the
administration of the trust, advisory committee and research priority committee.
WINTER CEREAL PRODUCER ORGANISATION (WPO)
Establishment
Prior to September 1989, the responsibility of industry services for winter cereal
producers fell on organised agriculture. The structures responsible for these services
were the National Industry Committee for Wheat and other Winter Cereals of the SAAU
(the National Winter Cereal Committee), together with the winter cereal committees
of the provincial agricultural unions – namely the Transvaal, Free State, Northern Cape
and Western Cape agricultural unions. (TAU, FSAU, NCAU and WCAU).
The winter cereal committees were set up at provincial level by nominating persons
from the various district agricultural unions. Representatives on the National Winter
Cereal Committee were appointed on the basis of production volumes. TheWestern
Cape, with the largest production volume of winter cereal, therefore had the
biggest representation on the National Winter Cereal Committee.
By the late 1980s, the movement to agricultural specialisation started gaining ground.
The National Winter Cereal Committee took due note of the changing circumstances.
At its meeting on 15 September 1988, the committee in principle accepted that it had
become essential to critically evaluate the structures available for the servicing of
winter cereal producers.
This led to the recommendation by the National Winter Cereal Committee to
establish a national industry organisation for the winter cereal producers with
During the NOPO farewell dinner on
17 April 1999, the entire Executive signed
this commemorative certificate.