

18
Direct payments
Grain SA members may also, if they prefer, make direct payments to Grain SA. With direct pay-
ments the producer can inform Grain SA of the number of tons delivered and Grain SA will then
issue an invoice to the producer. This method of payment is particularly suitable where producers
deliver grain to companies that do not currently form part of the collection agents.
EMPLOYMENT OF LEVY
The levies that Grain SA receives from producers are used for specific purposes and the budgets for
these are approved by Congress on an annual basis. However, this means that the producers who
pay levies have input into how it is applied. The figure below indicates how the levies were employed
in the 2019/2020 season.
The biggest part of the levy fund is used for grain economics and research. This is done by the
commodity services (mainly economists) and the research team. The aim is to ensure that the market
and input environment functions optimally in order to also ensure the sustainability of the producer.
Research plays an important role in gathering the necessary expertise to ensure that producer-driven
research enjoys priority and that research funding is utilised optimally.
The levy fund is further used for marketing actions, member benefits and commission for the collec-
tion agents helping to collect the levies for Grain SA. Marketing actions are launched throughout the
year to develop and promote the image of Grain SA and agriculture as a whole.
Members can be assured that the levy is used purely to promote members’ interests, and Grain SA
feels strongly that the use of the funds must be driven by the members who are represented by
the organisation.
MEMBER STATISTICS
Grain SA
Only grain producers can be members of Grain SA. The total active members on the Grain SA
database for the 2022 Congress year was 7 439 in total. Grain SA is still trying to make the member
database more accurate to ensure that it is workable, correct and efficient. It is particularly important
to have accurate member information for the distribution of documentation and other important
information from the organisation to the members.
The number of members who pay the Grain SA levy continues to move laterally relatively constantly.
The collection of the member levy remains the biggest focus of the levy marketing team and will also
remain the biggest focal point in the future to ensure the financial sustainability of the organisation.
5%
10%
5%
14%
4%
1%
3%
26%
18%
3%
10%
1%
COLLECTION COMMISSION
GRAIN SA MANAGEMENT FEE
BRANCH FUNDING
PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL UNIONS
MEMBERSHIP FEES
MEMBERSHIP FEES (NON-PAID-UP MEMBERS)
LEGAL FEES
FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
GRAIN ECONOMY
GRAIN RESEARCH
MEMBER BENEFITS
MARKETING
COMMISSION MARKETERS
GRAPH 1
USE OF THE LEVY IN THE 2022/2023 MARKETING YEAR
0%
MARKETING, NAMPO AND
RESEARCH COORDINATION