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THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႃႊ
• Silver – 500 Ton member
• Gold – 1 000 Ton member and
• Platinum – 1 500 Ton member.
On 25 September 2008 the FDP of Grain SA and Monsanto SA held its first ’Day of
Celebration’. Progress was acknowledged with regards to farmer development and
32 farmers were awarded membership of the 250 Ton Club.
‘We thought it fitting to establish a 250 Ton Club to acknowledge the achievement
of those who are already producing more than 250 tons of grain/year and who
are really close to being true commercial farmers. Many of them will only be
part of our programme for another year or two, but their progress needs to be
recognised,’ McPherson said in a media statement after the ceremony.
Early in 2009 members of the ANC Women’s League and representatives of
Grain SA met to discuss various issues of mutual concern with the 250 Ton Club
members. Grain SA also focused attention on the extensive support it gives
to the development of capacitated, sustainable, black commercial farmers
through its farmer development programme. They were told about the
significant strides made over the years and about the newly established The
250 Ton Club which honoured the progress made by top developing farmers.
They met these farmers who had availed themselves of every opportunity to
receive the training and grass roots, with field support offered through the pro-
gramme. The ANC Women's League was pleased to discover that this training
is offered to all the participants without charge as the courses are sponsored
by the different grain trusts.
In 2009 membership of the 250 Ton Club increased to 42 members, and in 2010
the club boasted 52 members with some members graduating to the 500 Ton
and 1 000 Ton categories (26 x 250 Ton members; 16 x 500 Ton members and
10 x 1 000 Ton members). By 2011 there were 58 members in the 250 Ton Club.
By 2015 the 250 Ton Club had grown both in representation and in standing. It has
become an important symbol for the farmers against which they measure them-
selves and strive to achieve the yields which will earn them membership to what
they see as an ‘elite’ group of developing farmers.
250 TON CLUB MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS
250 Ton Club 500 Ton Club 1 000 Ton Club 1 500 Ton Club Total
2008
21
7
4
32
2009
23
10
8
41
2010
28
13
10
51
2011
30
17
10
57
2012
30
17
10
57
2013
47
18
14
2
81
2014
66
30
16
3
115
2015
67
31
18
3
119
By 2015 the 250 Ton Club had grown to 119 members.