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I
T WAS A GOOD AGRICULTURAL YEAR IN SOUTH
AFRICA THIS PAST SEASON. CROPS WERE GOOD,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE RAIN CAME LATE.
THE FORECAST FOR THE NEW SEASON SO FAR
IS ALSO VERY POSITIVE. THE AREA WHERE NEW
FARMERS ARE REALLY EXPERIENCING DROUGHT IS
CROP FINANCING. THE RISK APPETITE FROM COM-
MERCIAL BANKS TO FINANCE OUR CROPS IS DISAP-
POINTING. IF NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE, WE WILL
NOT SEE ANY GROWTH IN THIS AREA.
Maybe it is time to have a proper look at the Credit Act to allow
more room in the regulations for food production. We are also
experiencing drought when it comes to government projects.
There are enough funds, but why it has to be late every year
is an answer that we still can’t get. The liquidity problems of
the Land Bank are not helping either. This is the government
institution that needs to perform well if development is their
mandate. I find it hard to believe that the government consider
digging SAA out of their misery, but not the Land Bank.
Yet, despite all these issues to get the crop farmers financed,
the tonnages produced are increasing. The resilience that makes
the South African farmers world renowned is also in the new farm-
ers. ‘
’n Boer maak ‘n plan
’, is in the DNA of every farmer, irrespec-
tive of size. The Grain SA Farmer Development Programme has
signed new agreements with donors to assist our farmers with
finance. Some of these agreements are running over four years.
This is very encouraging. The farmers in these programmes man-
aged by Grain SA have done well and the donors are encouraged
with the results.
Lastly, Grain SA made a new investment in developing farm-
ing. We founded a new Company: Phahama Grain Phakama. This
company will focus solely on grain farmer development and will
be led by the Grain SA leaders and managed by Grain SA staff.
I want to wish you a good harvest in 2021. May the good Lord
provide us good rains, just as He sent us His only Son to give us
a chance to grow and to yield good fruit upon His return one day.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous new COVID-free year.
3
27
16
KNOW THE PLANTING
THRESHOLDS RELEVANT
TO YOUR GROWING
SEASONS
09
WORKING TOWARDS
A COMMITTED AND
ENTHUSIASTIC
WORKFORCE
14
10
MAIZE MARKET
PROSPECTS FOR
NEXT SEASON
22
A W
ORD
F
ROM…
Jannie de Villiers
MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE MAIZE TRUST