

26
SOCIAL MEDIA
Grain SA continued to strengthen its online platforms and utilised its social media communication
channels fully. The digital media strategy was assessed and revisited following the tremendous
feedback – positive and negative – following the NAMPO social media outcries. The strategy focused
on information transfer, engagement, community building, brand awareness and reputation manage-
ment, education and building a far-reaching online presence by simplifying content sharing between
our target audience and their networks. Grain SA was active on five key platforms (Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn), with over 53 300 fans and followers across all platforms – a 17,5%
increase for the period under review.
During the year under review, activity on all the social media accounts increased, and with the
integration of the Grain SA social media and web platforms, cross-sharing has been simplified.
The Grain SA Facebook page remains the more popular platform, albeit marginally, with members
interacting with the organisation and fellow social media users daily. Interactions with community
members and effect of these interactions have increased substantially.
EVENTS AND OCCASIONS
Following a three-year hiatus, Grains SA was once again able to host a multitude of events and
leverage the opportunity to communicate and network with the media, government representatives,
suppliers, agri-businesses, partners and the public at large. Entering into a couple of new ventures
and partnering with existing ones, Grain SA is grateful to have had a busy events calendar in the
second part of the year under review.
Grain SA Congress
FIGURE 3
GRAIN SA’S SOCIAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
grainsa
grain_sa
GrainSA
GrainSA
2017/2018: 10 917 FRIENDS
2018/2019: 12 961 FRIENDS
2019/2020: 15 697 FRIENDS
2020/2021: 18 053 FRIENDS
2021/2022: 22 892 FRIENDS
2017/2018: 2 632 FOLLOWERS
2018/2019: 3 288 FOLLOWERS
2019/2020: 5 142 FOLLOWERS
2020/2021: 6 645 FOLLOWERS
2021/2022: 7 082 FOLLOWERS
2017/2018: 9 441 FOLLOWERS
2018/2019: 11 800 FOLLOWERS
2019/2020: 15 595 FOLLOWERS
2020/2021: 18 300 FOLLOWERS
2021/2022: 20 022 FOLLOWERS
2017/2018: 165
SUBSCRIBERS
2018/2019: 227
SUBSCRIBERS
2019/2020: 688
SUBSCRIBERS
2020/2021: 2 213
SUBSCRIBERS
2021/2022: 3 320
SUBSCRIBERS
Grain SA members and guests gathered at
NAMPO Park for its annual Congress, themed
Responsibility in Change. 2021 was a year in
which the pace of change was phenomenal
and producers had to keep up or be left be-
hind. Although South African producers are
known for their adaptability, another difficult
year of COVID has forced farmers to take stock
of the responsibility that rests on every farming
business to adapt, add value and continue
sustainably. Likewise, Grain SA accepted the
challenge of a combined Congress (in person
and virtually), and on 2 and 3 March 2022
members, government officials, role-players,
MARKETING, NAMPO AND
RESEARCH COORDINATION