Die Voorsitter van Graan SA, mnr Bully Botma, het vandag bekend gemaak dat die ernstige krisis waarbinne die landbou as geheel en die graanbedryf in besonder verkeer die organisiasie noop om hierdie werklikheid aan ander rolspelers in die bedryf, die regering en die wêreld daar buite uit te dra. ‘n Wye reeks nasionale en internasionale omstandighede, asook spesifieke negatiewe markfaktore, kniehalter die winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid van die graanbedryf in die land, het hy gesê.

Hy sê dat graanprodusente word op hulle knieë gedwing deur die heersende lae graanpryse. In ag genome die hoë insetkoste en hoë risiko’s waaraan graanproduksie onderworpe is, kan daar in hierdie land nie meer teen die huidige pryse geproduseer word nie.

Mnr Botma het bekend gemaak dat Graan SA op Saterdag, 29 Januarie 2005 soveel moontlik produsente na ‘n massavergadering oproep by die Supersportpark-krieketstadion in Centurion by Pretoria, en op Maandag, 31 Januarie 2005 by die Velodrome, Tygervallei in Bellville, Kaap. Hierdie vergaderings vind plaas vanaf 10:00 tot 12:00 by die onderskeie stadions. 

Mnr Botma sê dat daar tydens hierdie geleenthede die spesifieke faktore wat tot die onvolhoubare situasie aanleiding gee bespreek sal word en waartydens enige moontlike werkbare oplossing, wat die situasie kan beredder, gevind sal moet word.

Mnr Botma doen ‘n beroep op alle georganiseerde landboustrukture en hulle lede om hierdie aksies te ondersteun ter wille van die oorlewing van die landbou as geheel in Suid-Afrika.

Mass gathering of producers - Crisis within South African agriculture

The Chairman of Grain SA, mr Bully Botma, today announced that the serious crisis confronting agriculture as a whole and the grain industry in particular has forced the organisation to convey this reality to other roleplayers in the industry, government and the world at large. A broad spectrum of national and international circumstances, as well as negative market factors, militate against the profitability and sustainability of the grain industry in the country, he said.

He said that grain producers were being forced to their knees by the current low grain prices. Considering the high input cost structure and high risks that grain production is subject to, it is no longer possible to produce at the current price levels.

Mr Botma announced that Grain SA was organising a gathering of as many producers as possible at mass meetings to be held on 29 January 2005 at Supersport Park in Centurion near Pretoria and on 31 January 2005 at the Velodrome, Tygervalley in Bellville, Cape. These meetings will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 at the respective venues.

Mr Botma said that the specific factors giving rise to this unsustainable situation would be discussed at these occasions and during which possible workable solutions would be tabled for consideration.

Mr Botma appealed to all organised agricultural structures and their members to support these actions in the interest of the survival of the industry as a whole in South Africa.