51 / 53
ႇႃ
CHAPTER 4
also take the initiative to maintain the best possible dynamic position for the sorghum
producers in a co-ordinated manner.
While the Sorghum Board handled the interests of the broader industry (including
the producers), the SPO was exclusively a producer organisation and functioned
independently as part of the SAAU.
The SPO addressed the following matters, among other things:
• Sorghum as an economically viable crop;
• Market-related production;
• Functional storage; and
• Industry relationships.
Common problems experienced with respect to seed, combatting queleas, grading
and the marketing of sorghum were all dealt with by the SPO.
Funding
The SPO submitted an annual budget to the Sorghum Board, as per the agreement.
These costs amounted to R338 563 during the 1995/1996 year, which represented a
cost of R1,71/ton – measured against the 1995 sorghum harvest.
Mr Pieter Morkel, Chairperson of the SPO,
1999.
The first Executive of the SPO comprised the following members:
Messrs
JD Tonkin (Chairperson)
JNS du Plessis (Vice-chairperson)
JV Roux
D Hattingh
SP Wessels
E van Jaarsveld
ML van der Westhuizen
AHJJ Strydom
HJ Bonnet
W Wierenga
WA Kruidenier
PH Ferreira
PW Morkel
APJ du Plessis
TPJ Swart
Everyone present at the SPO’s last Con-
gress on 9 June 1999 signed this commem-
orative certificate.