Produsente het met groot teleurstelling en ongeloof kennis geneem van die Staat se besluit om slegs ‘n twee persent tarief op ‘n ad volarem basis op koringinvoere te plaas, sê meneer Bully Botma, Voorsitter van Graan Suid-Afrika.

Die boodskap wat die Staat daardeur aan koringprodusente deurgee is duidelik een van geen simpatie met die ongelyke internasionale speelveld waarbinne hulle meeding nie.  Alhoewel die Staat ‘n groot kampvegter is om binne die Wêreld Handels Organisasie (WHO) hierdie speelveld gelyk te maak, is hy nie bereid om, terwyl daar tans geen vordering binne die WHO is nie, plaaslike produsente deur middel van tariewe teen gesubsidieerde invoere te ondersteun nie.

Die persepsie wat nou by plaaslike produsente geskep is, is dat hulle nou op hul eie gelaat word om teen die res van die wêreld, waar regeringshulp hoogty vier, te kompeteer.

Mnr Botma sê dat die twee persent tarief totaal belaglik is en dit is nie duidelik wat die Staat daardeur wil bewys nie.  Die effektiewe beskerming is feitlik niks nie en daar is geen verskil in die effek van die afgekondigde tarief en ‘n nul tarief nie.

Graan Suid-Afrika het baie moeite gedoen en fondse spandeer om met bewese inligting voorstelle oor ‘n tariefbedeling vir koring te maak.  In die proses is daar van buite kundiges en onafhanklike internasionale studies gebruik gemaak.

Mnr Botma sê verder dat die Staat beslis nie die moontlike gevolge van sy besluit besef nie.  Produsente, wat vir die grootste gedeelte of selfs al hul inkomste van koring afhanklik is, en wat binne die huidige bedeling nie winsgewend kan produseer nie word nou gedwing om aanpassings in hul boerdery opset te maak.  Dit sal beslis ‘n negatiewe rimpelingseffek op hul arbeiders en plaaslike gemeenskappe hê.

Ten slotte sê mnr Botma dat die primêre koringbedryf, maar ook ander bedrywe, deeglik moet kennis neem van die Staat se siening oor die langtermyn oorlewing van plaaslike produsente.  As gevolg van die klein (16%) aandeel wat die koringprys op die koste van ‘n brood het en dan ook die beperkte effek wat selfs ‘n relatiewe hoë tarief op die broodprys kan hê, kon die effek van Graan Suid-Afrika se voorstelle op die bekostigbaarheid van brood vir die bevolking nie die belangrikste rede vir die lae tarief wees nie.

Wat Graan Suid-Afrika nou te doen staan is om terugvoer vanaf die International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) en die Minister van Handel en Nywerheid oor wat die hoofredes vir hul besluit was, te kry.  Na ontleding daarvan sal Graan Suid-Afrika sy lede oor moontlike aksies adviseer.

Wheat tariff: a great disappointment

“It is with great disappointment and disbelief that producers took note of government’s decision to impose a two percent tariff on an ad valorem basis on imported wheat,” Mr Bully Botma, Chairman of Grain SA said today.

The message conveyed to wheat producers by this action is clearly one of no sympathy towards the uneven international playing field in which local wheat producers have to compete.  Although government strives to even out the playing field within the rules set by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), government is not prepared to protect wheat producers against subsidised wheat imports.  This creates a perception that local wheat producers are left out in the cold to compete with the rest of the world where government aid runs riot.

The two percent tariff is ridiculous and it is not clear what government’s intentions in this regard are, Mr Botma said.  The effective protection is almost nothing and there will be no difference between a zero tariff and the tariff as announced.

Grain SA put a lot of effort and funds in to give sound advice to ITAC about the proposed tariff.  Independent international studies, as well as experts in this field, were part of the process.

Mr Botma adds that government is clearly not aware of the ramifications of this decision.  Producers who are dependant on wheat for all or some of their income, and who currently can not produce profitably, will be forced to make changes to their farming operations.  This will most definitely have a negative ripple effect on their labourers as well as the local rural communities.

Concluding Mr Botma said that the primary wheat production industry, as well as other agricultural enterprises, must take cognisance of the position of government on the long-term survival of local grain producers.  As a result of the relatively small proportion (16%) that the wheat price contributes to the price of bread, and the limited effect that even a comparatively high tariff would have on the bread price we can only assume that the reason for the low tariff is not to provide affordable bread to the population.

Grain SA needs to understand, both from ITAC as well as the Minister of Trade and Industry, precisely what motivated their decision.  After analysing the reasons provided, Grain SA will be in a position to advise its members on possible actions to be taken.