“Graan SA het in Augustus vanjaar aanbeveel dat Grondboonprodusente hulle aanplantings vir die komende produksieseisoen met 72% tot 107 200 hektaar teenoor die afgelope seisoen kan uitbrei.  ‘n Ontleding van SAGIS se verbruiksyfers vir die eerste 5 maande van die huidige bemarkingseisoen (Maart tot Julie) toon egter ‘n dramatiese afname in die binnelandse verbruik en uitvoere van grondbone”, sê mnr Bully Botma, voorsitter van Graan SA.

Indien hierdie verbruikstendens oor die hele bemarkingseisoen geprojekteer word, dui dit daarop dat ongeveer 21 000 ton minder grondbone as wat aanvanklik deur Graan SA beraam is, verbruik en uitgevoer kan word. Dit bring mee dat die produksieruimte vir die komende seisoen met sowat 18 800 hektaar afwaarts aangepas sal moet word. Hierdie aanbeveling bring mee dat die produksieruimte vir die komende seisoen op 88 400 hektaar geraam word en dat die grondboon-oppervlakte teenoor die vorige seisoen dus slegs met 42% uitgebrei kan word.

“Graan SA doen gevolglik ‘n beroep op produsente om hierdie produksieruimte in hul beplanning vir die komende seisoen in ag te neem.”

Mnr Botma het produsente ook daarop gewys dat die goeie landboupraktyke in terme van nuwe wetgewing op grondbone bestem vir die uitvoermark vanaf 1 Januarie 2005 van krag word.

‘n Ernstige beroep word gevolglik op produsente gedoen om die komende seisoen eers kontrakte met afnemers te sluit alvorens hulle grondbone aanplant.”

Grain SA warns about limited market opportunities for groundnuts 

In August this year, Grain SA recommended to groundnut producers that they could expand groundnut production to 107 200 hectares, an increase of 72% compared to last year.  “An analysis of SAGIS consumption figures for the first five months of the current marketing season (March to July) however indicates a drastic decline in domestic consumption and exports of groundnuts” said Mr Bully Botma, chairman of Grain SA. 

If the current consumption figures are projected over the whole marketing season, then approximately 21 000 tons less groundnuts than originally expected will consumed and exported. This results in the market space for the coming season being reduced by 18 800 hectares. This recommendation therefore means that groundnut production can be expanded to 88 400 hectares which is 42% more than the previous season.

“Grain SA therefore requests producers to take the following market space recommendation into account in their planning for the coming season.”

Mr Botma also mentioned to producers that in terms of the new Act, all groundnuts destined for the export market are subject to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).

“A serious request was made to producers to first ensure that they signed contracts with buyers before planting groundnuts this coming season.”