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THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႊ
FROM TALKS WITH
PRODUCERS IT IS ONCE
AGAIN CLEAR THAT THIS IS A
UNIQUE GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO, WITHIN A VERY SHORT
TIME, OVERCAME DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE
DROUGHT, AND WHO WILL
GO ON TAKING RISKS IN
THE COMING YEAR TO HELP
CREATE FOOD SECURITY IN
THE COUNTRY.
I HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION
FOR THIS CHARACTERISTIC
OF GRAIN PRODUCERS
AND THEIR POSITIVE AND
AMAZING PERSEVERANCE
TO KEEP ON FARMING.
– Mr Jannie de Villiers
After NAMPO 2015
in a press release.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Grain SA is continuously holding talks with the government for greater support
with regard to research and the development of new technology. Funding is one
of the biggest stumbling blocks regarding research. The grain industry is largely
dependent on the Maize Trust, the Sorghum Trust, the Winter Cereal Trust and the
OPDT for the funding of research projects. Grain SA is therefore actively involved
in talks with the government to make funds available for agricultural research in
order to address the demands of the time.
A major problem with research with regard to grain was that producers’ needs were
not addressed quickly enough in research actions. In order to address that, Grain SA
drafted a research strategy for every commodity, attending to the needs as defined
by the working groups, as well as their goals. The strategy is then referred to research
institutions that are able to do the research.
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC), which is responsible for agricultural research
in South Africa, does not have the capacity in all instances to satisfy all the research
needs. Grain SA became involved by facilitating co-operation agreements between
the ARC and universities in order to co-ordinate the total available research capacity
and apply it more effectively.
EMERGING AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME
The emerging agriculture programme that is discussed in Chapter 8 has, among
other things, the aim to contribute to food security by developing new grain pro-
ducers. Grain SA realises how important it is to maintain good relationships with
the government and especially the Department of Agriculture, and in the interest
of agriculture in South Africa, to keep them informed about the actions with which
the organisation is involved. As a result there is regular liaison with the Minister of
Agriculture and his department and they are exposed to programmes of Grain SA
in an attempt to establish a better understanding and co-operation in the interest
of food security.
Mr Jannie de Villiers
“
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