In 2012, South Africa’s wheat industry launched the Wheat Industry Plan to alleviate the country’s dependence on grain imports. Andries Theron, chairperson of Grain SA’s winter cereals working group, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about progress made with implementing the plan.
WHY WAS THE WHEAT INDUSTRY PLAN LAUNCHED?
The Wheat Forum, represented by producers, millers, bakers and researchers, launched the Wheat Industry Plan in 2012 due to concern that South Africa was becoming too dependent on wheat imports and that this could affect food security.
During the 1990s, South Africa produced over three million tons of wheat a year, and in some years this was more than could be used locally. By 2012, due to decreasing profitability, the area under production had shrunk from more than a million hectares to less than 500 000ha. Better-paying alternatives had become available, thanks to the development of genetically modified maize and soya bean.
To meet demand, wheat imports gradually increased as local production decreased, and since about 2012 we’ve been importing more wheat than we’ve produced. Initially, the Wheat Industry Plan was introduced to create a turnaround strategy, but it was later agreed to simply try to halt this trend for now.
HOW DID PROFITABILITY ISSUES AFFECT THE AREA OF PRODUCTION?
The Free State used to be seen as the breadbasket of South Africa. Nowadays, little wheat is produced in the province. Instead, the Western Cape produces roughly 50% of the total harvest and the irrigated areas of the Northern Cape grow about 25%.
HAVE FARMERS ADAPTED?
Many have adopted new technologies such as precision farming to reduce input costs and enhance farming efficiency, and they’ve also introduced conservation farming methods. The latter entail the use of minimum tillage, crop rotation and stubble retention, not only to reduce machine-related fuel costs, but also to alleviate the impact of drought by improving soil water-holding capacity.
WHAT DOES THE WHEAT INDUSTRY PLAN ENTAIL?
This story is from the January 18, 2019 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 18, 2019 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
