Page 4 - OF0620 Online_Neat

Editor: Dr Erhard Briedenhann
A year to remember +27 82 551 1634 • erhardb@netactive.co.za
Committee members
or one to forget? Gerhard Keun • 011 803 2579
De Wet Boshoff • 082 301 1035
Published by: Plaas Media (Pty) Ltd
217 Clifton Ave, Lyttelton, Centurion, RSA
he impact of the coronavirus Despite many challenges, a maize Private Bag X2010, Lyttelton, 0140, RSA
has changed the business crop of 15,22 million tons is expected Tel: +27 12 664 4793 · www.agriorbit.com
environment globally – this season. This is exceptional given the Chief editor: Lynette Louw
perhaps even more so in ten-year average of 11,97 million tons +27 84 580 5120 · lynette@plaasmedia.co.za
T South Africa, with our country and is second only to 2017, when a crop
having implemented some of the strictest of 16,82 million tons was reported. Deputy editor: Danielle Barfoot
lockdown regulations in the world. The soya bean crop is expected at +27 12 664 4793 · danielle@plaasmedia.co.za
Statistics South Africa’s second impact 1,29 million tons. The ten-year average Design & layout: Annemie Visser
survey, which was a business response is 949 616 tons, and this season’s crop +27 12 664 4793 · annemie@plaasmedia.co.za
from mid to late April, indicated that, just is only surpassed in size by the 2017
a few weeks into the lockdown, a third and 2018 seasons. The Free State has Advertising
Craig Wagner
of firms had started laying off staff, while shown encouraging growth of 37% in +27 62 794 0910 · craig@plaasmedia.co.za
25% had decreased working hours. Sadly, production and is the largest production
10% of businesses had also permanently region of soya beans this season. With Karin Changuion-Duffy
ceased operations by the time I wrote carryover stock, this crop should allow +27 82 376 6396 • karin@plaasmedia.co.za
this article. Sectors most affected by for processing of 1,45 million tons in Susan Steyn
business closures were construction 2020/21, thus continuously increasing +27 82 657 1262 • susan@plaasmedia.co.za
(14%), community, social and personal South Africa’s strides toward self-
services (12%), and agriculture, hunting, sufficiency in soybean meal. Esmarie Moodie
+27 76 330 0745 • esmarie@plaasmedia.co.za
forestry and fishing (12%). The sunflower crop, which is expected
When the lockdown was imposed, to be around 731 210 tons, is also Juan de Villiers
more than half of businesses indicated encouraging, while groundnuts have +27 60 508 3188 • juan@plaasmedia.co.za
that they could not survive without made a remarkable recovery from the Accounts: Marné Anderson
turnover for one to three months. The crop failure of last year, which produced +27 72 639 1805 · marne@plaasmedia.co.za
restaurant industry, in particular, was less than 20 000 tons. In comparison, this
on the brink of collapse. Escalating season’s crop of 62 470 tons should bring Subscriptions: Beauty Mthombeni
unemployment became another harsh great relief to the industry. +27 64 890 6941 · beauty@plaasmedia.co..za

reality, with an estimated four million Printed and bound by: Typo
additional job losses. Looking forward +27 11 402 0571
Unfortunately, by the time you The impact of the coronavirus will be
read this issue of Oilseeds Focus, these felt for a long time. Since the lockdown Oilseeds Focus, Plaas Media and its staff and
statistics will be outdated and the began, Business Unity South Africa has contributors do not necessarily subscribe to the
views expressed in this publication.
devastating effect of the lockdown on suggested that instead of begrudgingly
our economy may be even greater. opening the economy with a long list of © Copyright: No portion of this magazine may
prescribed goods, government should be reproduced in any form without the written
Counting our blessings supply a short list of exclusions. Only consent of the publishers.
The agricultural industry, which was time will tell what will happen. For the
classified as an essential service, can sake of all South Africans, let us hope
be incredibly grateful that it was able that logic prevails.
to operate. Here, government must be
commended for its assistance in allowing Enjoy this edition of Oilseeds Focus.
and enabling the sector to continue, with
minor exceptions. Dr Erhard Briedenhann

Send us your contributions and suggestions to make Oilseeds Focus
an enjoyable and valuable publication for the oilseeds industry.
Contact Dr Briedenhann at erhardb@netactive.co.za for more information. Published on behalf of:
Protein Research Foundation
PO Box 1564, Rivonia, 2128
Tel: 011 803 2579 • Fax 011 803 2287 / 086 634 8067
2 June 2020 Enquiries: gkeun@proteinresearch.net