February 2025
DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, REGIONAL MEETINGS are HELD TO SHARE THE GRAIN SA GROUP OF ENTITIES’ FOCUS AREAS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD. THESE TOPICS WILL ALSO BE ON THE TABLE AT THE 2025 CONGRESS ON 12 AND 13 MARCH, WHICH WILL ONCE AGAIN BE HELD AT NAMPO PARK NEAR BOTHAVILLE IN THE FREE STATE.
The 2025 Congress offers a wonderful platform for members, government officials, role-players, academics, partners and stakeholders to interact.
WHAT IS THE CONGRESS?
The Grain SA Congress is the annual general meeting of members. The function of Congress is, amongs other, the consideration and discussion of the annual financial statements, auditor’s report and the report of the Grain SA board.
A chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and board members are elected during the proceedings. Once elected, the board has the authority to ensure that the objectives of the Grain SA group of entities are achieved.
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF CONGRESS?
The function of Congress is:
HOW ARE DELEGATES ELECTED TO CONGRESS?
It is very important for members to carefully consider who to nominate as delegates from their region and who will best represent farmers’ interests at Congress.
Members of Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) pay annual membership fees, which give them access to the privileges and benefits produced by PGP. Commercial members also pay a commodity levy on all grain and oilseeds produced to Grain SA. They earn the right to influence decisions of the body through a constituted and democratic process.
At the regional meetings before Congress, delegates from the different regions will be nominated to attend. A delegate must be a bona fide farmer producing grain for the market – a person who knows farming issues in his region, who is able to understand the organisation’s business and who will speak up for the farmers’ interests.
Delegates have the responsibility of voting on very important matters that influence the activities of the organisation in terms of work done, leadership and even changes in the constitution. When chosen, delegates are informed of their rights and responsibilities when they are elected to represent their farming communities.
A farmer who attends Congress as a delegate, must be a leader in his/her community, someone who will be your voice at the general meeting and who will return home to tell farmers in his/her region what was discussed and decided there.
WHEN SHOULD FEES AND LEVIES BE PAID UP?
Membership fees and the commodity levy (if applicable) are paid annually for the period from 1 October to the end of September, when the financial year for membership fees and levies ends. The status of membership for delegates is determined by the payments received until the end of February that precedes Congress.
Only paid-up members can attend the Grain SA Congress as voting delegates, and they also qualify for free entry to Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day or other regional based events, such as NAMPO Cape.
WHAT ARE BREAKAWAY SESSIONS?
All delegates attend separate breakaway sessions, where a variety of matters regarding different commodities – maize, winter cereals, sunflower/sorghum, soybean and groundnut – are discussed. This is a valuable opportunity where the focus is on crop-specific issues.
Many different communication tools need to be employed to teach farmers modern technologies and ensure that significant and meaningful knowledge transfer is effected. The team has very strategically put different actions in place to respectfully guide and develop farmers by adopting a ‘tell, teach and involve’ method for the learning process.
Apart from study group sessions, several training courses are held. Farmers’ days and demonstration trials offer more learning opportunities for those developing farmers. In the period from 11 November to 29 November, there were 123 study group meetings. Apart from the delivery of inputs, some training was also done.
At the Cancele Study Group meeting in the Kokstad region, it was clear why practical sessions are just as important as the theory. After a revision session on the use of chemicals, the group proceeded to do a demonstration in the garden. Farmers were so excited when they discovered how simple it was in practice compared to the theory.
Trial plots are a wonderful way of showing farmers the right thing to do, the right time to do it and the right way to do things – and even sometimes what not to do. In November, a demonstration trial was planted in the Manthole Village in Limpopo. All seed and chemicals were supplied by the Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT).
Farmers from the Ikamvalethu Study Group reading their latest copies of Pula, which they received at the meeting. This edition offered valuable information to farmers who also received chemicals and a lecture on planting and weed control.
As November is a very busy time for farmers, only two training courses were presented in this period. These were practical courses – planter calibration and sprayer calibration – both held in Maclear.
Through farm visits, the farmers in the Farmer Development Programme are receiving individualised support from the Farmer Development team for this summer season. From
11 November to 29 November 2024, a total of 105 farm visits took place, with 55 farmers benefitting from the team’s inputs.
The regional development manager in the Free State, Jacques Roux, visited Madinda Matshinini. He advised him to do post-emergence spray as soon as possible to get rid of all the unwanted weeds – especially the watergrass that puts huge pressure on the soybean crop.
Mafika Mavuso adjusted the plant population from 25 000 to 38 850 plants per hectare. Mentor Timon Filter from the Louwsburg region is keen to see what the difference between bigger spacing and smaller spacing will realise. Mafika still puts manure on his crops, which is good for the soil health.
In Lichtenburg, Du Toit van der Westhuizen, regional development manager, found that his mentee, Allman Mpomela, had started planting as the soil was wet enough. Seed was delivered for the 50 ha that needs to be planted for SACTA. Allman also received the fertiliser for his maize.
At the time of the farm visit, farmer Simphiwe Mabuza had planted 157 ha of maize and was still busy planting soybeans. Mentor Chris de Jager from the Louwsburg area showed him why regular inspection of the plants is necessary as he found patches of poor germination in the maize and also some cutworm. The flooded soils could have prevented the uptake of phosphorus.
Publication: February 2025
Section: Pula/Imvula