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4
High-calibre producers
trump exceptional
circumstances
Hoë kaliber produsente
troef buitengewone
omstandighede
V
olhoubare graan- en oliesadeproduksie vorm die kernfokus van
Graan SA se werksaamhede. As ’n kollektiewe geheel dien die
organisasie as spreekbuis en onderhandelaar namens produsente
met alle rolspelers tot voordeel van die graanbedryf. Hierdie jaarverslag
is ’n refleksie van die wyse waarop Graan SA in dié verband hom weer
eens uitstekend van sy taak gekwyt het.
Graan SA moes bogenoemde verantwoordelikhede nakom binne ’n
komplekse landbou-omgewing vol veranderlikes en wat groot eise
aan die Suid-Afrikaanse produsent stel. Een veranderlike in besonder
is die uitermatige wisselende klimaatstoestande wat ’n wesenlike
bedreiging vir voedselsekerheid in Suid-Afrika inhou. Dit is gevolglik
noodsaaklik dat die sektor sy bestuurs- en produksiepraktyke op ’n
deurlopende grondslag hierby moet aanpas om die kwesbaarheid
van landbou te kan beperk. Ten einde volhoubaarheid te verseker,
moet produsente alles in hulle vermoë doen om hul risiko te mitigeer
en beperk. Die proses vereis kennis en insig en ook die realistiese
aanvaarding dat daar weinig vangnette bestaan.
’n Produsent moet gevolglik met groot insig en kennis aan die hand
van die nuutste navorsingsinligting, tegnologie en produksiemetodes
besin oor watter toekomstige landboupraktyke die beste op sy/haar
grond sal werk. Daar is ongelukkig geen ruimte om foute te maak nie.
Dit vereis kennis en insig en ook die realistiese aanvaarding dat daar
weinig vangnette bestaan.
Suid-Afrikaanse produsente word by herhaling deur internasionale
rolspelers uitgelig as van die beste ter wêreld ondanks die buitengewone
omstandighede waaronder geboer word. Spesiale erkenning word ook
gegee aan die feit dat ons produsente as die voorlopers in die aanwending
van die nuutste tegnologie beskou word.
In teenstelling met hulle eweknieë in die buiteland bevind produsente
hulself boonop ook in ’n landbou-omgewing wat gekenmerk word
deur verskeie nie-bevorderlike beleidsaangeleenthede waaronder
onsekerheid rondom grondbesit en die gebrek aan tariefbeskerming
teen wêreldwye mededingers. Danksy die kaliber van ons produsente
is dit egter merkwaardig dat hulle, wat so hoog aangeslaan word vir
hul vindingrykheid en deursettingsvermoë, steeds daarin slaag om
konsekwent voedsel van die hoogste gehalte te produseer teen koste-
effektiewe pryse en waarvan groot hoeveelhede uitgevoer word.
Vir Graan SA is dit dus belangrik dat sy lede die gerusstelling en
vertroue moet hê dat die organisasie, met sy sterk handelsnaam en
effektiewe bestuur, homself met toewyding en erns beywer vir ’n stabiele
produksie-omgewing wat ook gekenmerk word deur beleidsekerheid.
Sodoende stel dit produsente in staat om op hulle primêre funksie
naamlik voedselproduksie te fokus.
Dit is vanselfsprekend dat indien ’n landbou-organisasie se leierskapstyl
nie vertroue inboesem nie dit tot ’n verlies aan lede kan lei, wat sy invloed
as rigtinggewende rolspeler kan benadeel. Graan SA is egter dankbaar
dat ons ondersteuning op grondvlak toeneem en die ledetal groei.
Dit word beskou as ’n bewys van vertroue en erkenning vir die impak wat
dié organisasie as invloedryke rolspeler in landbou uitoefen ten einde ons
S
ustainable grain and oilseed production forms the core focus
of Grain SA’s activities. The organisation as a collective serves
as mouthpiece and negotiator with all role-players on behalf of
producers to the benefit of the grain industry. This annual report reflects
the way in which Grain SA once again carried out its task in this regard
in an excellent manner.
Grain SA had to fulfil the above responsibilities within a complex
agricultural environment filled with variables and making enormous
demands on the South African producer. One variable in particular
was the excessively varying climatic conditions, which pose a
significant threat to food security in South Africa. It is therefore
essential for the sector to continuously adapt its management and
production practices to these conditions to limit the vulnerability
of agriculture. In order to ensure sustainability, producers must do
everything possible to mitigate and minimise their risks. This process
requires knowledge and insight, and also the realistic acceptance
that there are few safety nets.
A producer must therefore reflect with great insight and knowledge
on the basis of the most recent research information, technology and
production methods on which agricultural practices will in future work the
best on their land. Unfortunately, there is no room for error. This process
requires knowledge and insight, and also the realistic acceptance that
there are few safety nets.
South African producers are repeatedly cited by international role-
players as among the best in the world, despite the exceptional
circumstances in which they farm. Special acknowledgement is also
given to the fact that our producers are regarded as the leaders in
employing the latest technology.
Unlike their peers in other countries, South African producers also
find themselves in an agricultural environment that is characterised
by several non-favourable policy issues, including uncertainty with
regard to land ownership and the lack of tariff protection against
global competitors. However, thanks to the calibre of our producers,
it is noteworthy that they – highly valued for their resourcefulness and
perseverance – can still succeed in consistently producing the highest
quality of food at cost-efficient prices and exporting large quantities of
their products.
To Grain SA it is therefore important that its members have the
reassurance and confidence that the organisation, with its strong brand
and effective management, works with dedication and zeal to ensure
a stable production environment that is also characterised by policy
certainty. This enables the producers to focus on their primary function,
namely food production.
It goes without saying that if the leadership style of an agricultural
organisation does not instill confidence, it will lose members, which
can harm its influence as a directive role-player. Grain SA is grateful
that our support at grassroots level is increasing and that the
membership is growing. This is regarded as proof of the confidence
in and recognition of the impact this organisation has as a seminal
Message from the Chairperson
Boodskap van die Voorsitter