Graan Suid-Afrika  (GSA) het ‘n indringende gesprek met die kunsmismaatskappy Profert gevoer oor hulle stellings dat meer mielies die komende seisoen aangeplant moet word. ‘n Advertensie wat deur Profert geplaas is, het in sekere dagblaaie en ‘n landboutydskrif verskyn.

Mnr Bully Botma, Voorsitter van Graan Suid-Afrika sê dat die advertensie die integriteit van Graan Suid-Afrika aantas en dat dit beslis nie bevorderlik vir die bou van vennootskappe binne die mieliebedryf is nie.

Dit is onverklaarbaar dat ‘n kunsmismaatskappy, wie se kernbesigheid die vervaardiging en bemarking van kunsmis is, soveel moeite doen om mielieprodusente, ongeag die ekonomiese haalbaarheid daarvan, tot ‘n masale oorproduksie aan te spoor sonder dat hulle bybedoelings daarmee het, sê mnr Botma.

Graan Suid-Afrika het in die gesprek gepoog om Profert oor die dinamika van die mieliemarkte in Suid- en suider-Afrika in te lig.  Die blote feit dat daar hongersnood en ‘n behoefte aan relatief groot hoeveelhede voedsel in die lande noord van die RSA bestaan, beteken nie dat plaaslike produsente winsgewend mielies daar kan bemark nie.

Mnr Botma sê verder dat Profert nie die beginsel dat mielieprodusente prysnemers en nie prysmakers is, wil aanvaar nie. Hulle wil ook nie die konsep, dat ‘n groter aanbod as die behoefte in die binnelandse mark en die BLNS lande (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibië, en Swaziland) pryse tot uitvoerpariteit sal afdruk, verstaan nie.

Produsente wat kliënte van Profert is, behoort saam met hul kunsmisbestellings op ‘n voorseisoen kontrak, wat hulle totale produksiekoste sal delg aan te dring.  Daardeur sal Profert bewys dat hulle oortuig is dat, soos in die advertensie uiteengesit, produsente met gemak drie miljoen hektaar en selfs meer in die komende seisoen kan aanplant.

Mnr Botma maan mielieprodusente om seker te maak dat die oppervlakte wat hulle beoog om aan te plant van so ‘n aard is dat die produksie daarop slegs op winsgewende markte gerig is anders sal die huidige krisis in die mieliebedryf, met uiterste nadelige gevolge vir produsente, na komende seisoene oorgedra word.

Grain South Africa and Profert in confrontation

Grain South Africa (Grain SA) had an in depth discussion with Profert regarding their statement that more maize should be planted this season.  An advertisement in this regard was placed by Profert in various daily newspapers as well as an agricultural magazine.

Mr Bully Botma, Chairman of Grain South Africa said that this advertisement is impairment on the integrity of Grain South Africa and that it is not conducive to the building of partnerships within the maize industry.  Mr Botma further said that it is unexplainable that a fertiliser company can go to such lengths to encourage maize producers to produce a massive surplus of maize irrespective of the financial implications without having an ulterior motive.

During the discussions Grain South Africa tried to explain the dynamics of the maize markets in South and Southern Africa to Profert.  The fact that famine and a huge demand for food exist in countries north of us, do not necessarily mean that maize can be marketed at a profit in these countries.

Mr Botma further said that Profert do not want to accept the principle that maize producers are price takers and not price makers.  Profert also do not want to understand the concept that a supply of maize that is larger than the local demand for maize, including the BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland), will push maize prices down to export parity levels.

Producers, who are clients of Profert should demand a pre-season contract for their maize at a price that will at least cover all input costs when they order their fertilizer.  In complying to this demand Profert will prove that they are convinced that producers can easily plant three million and even more hectares of maize this season.

Mr Botma urged maize producers not to plant more maize than what they can market at a profit.  Failing that, the current maize crisis will prevail in the coming seasons.