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Oesversekering
Graan SA werk onverpoos daaraan om omvattende, gesubsidieerde
oesversekering met die staat te beding ten einde dit meer bekostig-
baar vir produsente te maak. Tesame met rolspelers soos Graan SA
het die Suid-Afrikaanse Versekeringsvereniging (SAIA) ondersoek in-
gestel na die moontlikhede en impak van so ’n stelsel in die Suid-
Afrikaanse omgewing.
’n Volledige aansoek wat saam met internasionale instansies opgestel is,
is in Junie by die Tesourie ingedien vir oorweging deur die regering. Daar
is reeds voorheen ’n aansoek ingedien wat ongelukkig nie goedgekeur is
nie. Die aansoek omvat beide kommersiële en kleinskaalse produsente.
Die aansoek is ook aan die Wêreldbank en die FinMark Trust vir resensie
en aanbevelings gestuur.
Dit is verblydend dat die Minister van Landbou, Grondhervorming
en Landelike Ontwikkeling, Thoko Didiza, in Augustus 2019 in die
Parlement bevestig het dat daar wel ’n ondersoek gedoen word rakende
die subsidie van oesversekering.
SAMEVATTING
Suid-Afrikaanse produsente word internasionaal erken as van die beste in
die wêreld en vorm ’n taai, geharde en standvastige gemeenskap. Hoe
groter die uitdaging – hoe sterker staan hulle vas om kos vir die hele land op
die tafel te sit. Dit is hierdie onwrikbare toewyding aan hulle taak wat hulle
laat oorleef, al gaan dit ook hoe moeilik.
Ons is gelyktydig besig met die afhandeling van aksies in die hede maar
ons belê ook in aksies met die oog op die lang termyn en dit is belangrik
dat nie een van die twee agterweë gelaat word nie. Beide aksies sal
verseker dat Graan SA as organisasie behoudend sal bly en aan die
produsent in die hede sowel as in die toekoms ’n konstante sal bied.
Hierdie taak kan egter nie verrig word sonder die ondersteuning van ons
lede nie. Dankie aan elke lid vir sy/haar bydrae tot hierdie organisasie
wat ’n kritiese rol speel in die volhoubaarheid van graanproduksie in
Suid-Afrika.
Ek het ook ’n behoefte om die Dag- en Hoofbestuur erkenning te gee vir
hul rigtingvastheid in die heersende tye van onsekerheid en beproewing.
Om ’n boom te plant in wie se skaduwee jy waarskynlik nooit self gaan
sit nie, spreek van toegewyde leierskap. Die toegewyde span personeel
by Graan SA verdien ook spesiale vermelding vir hulle inisiatiewe om
volhoubare oplossings vir die graanprodusente te verseker.
In retrospek oor die afgelope jaar, besef ’n mens opnuut dat
Graan SA uitsluitlik deur die krag van die Groot Planter stabiliteit kon
help bring in ’n uitdagende klimaat en landboujaar. En daarvoor is ons
baie dankbaar.
Crop insurance
Grain SA is working constantly to negotiate comprehensive, subsidised
crop insurance with the government in order to make this more afford-
able to producers. Together with role-players like Grain SA, the South
African Insurance Association (SAIA) has investigated the possibilities
and impact of such a system in the South African environment.
A full application compiled in collaboration with international institutions
was submitted to the Treasury in June for consideration by the
government. A previous application was unfortunately not approved.
The current application includes commercial as well as smallholder
producers. The application was also sent to the World Bank and the
FinMark Trust for review and recommendations.
It is a hopeful sign that the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform
and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, confirmed in Parliament in
August 2019 that the subsidising of crop insurance was in fact being
investigated.
CONCLUSION
South African producers are recognised internationally as among the best
in the world, and form a tough, seasoned and steadfast community. The
greater the challenge, the stronger they stand to put food on the tables of
the entire country. It is this unshakeable commitment to their task that allows
them to survive, regardless of the problems.
We are finalising actions in the present, but at the same time we
invest in actions with a view to the long term, and it is important that
neither of the two types of action should fail to receive attention. Both
types of action will ensure that Grain SA as organisation remains
dependable and provides the producer with something constant
– in the present as well as in the future.
However, this task cannot be carried out without the support of our
members. Grain SA thanks every member for their contribution to this
organisation, which plays a critical role in the sustainability of grain
production in South Africa.
I also need to acknowledge the Management Committee and the
Executive for their steadfastness under prevailing conditions of
uncertainty and trial. Planting a tree in whose shadow you will probably
never sit yourself is evidence of dedicated leadership. The committed
team of staff at Grain SA also deserves special mention for their
initiatives to ensure sustainable solutions for the grain producers.
Looking back on the past year one realises afresh that Grain SA was
able to bring stability in a challenging climate and agricultural year only
through the grace of the Great Planter. And for that we are very grateful.
Jannie de Villiers
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
UITVOERENDE HOOFBESTUURDER