Agri SA welcomes wheat grading system amendments

Grain SA has welcomed the decision taken by the South African Wheat Forum with regard to the changes to the wheat grading system.

Jannie de Villiers, the CEO of Grain SA, said that although the objective was to implement the grading system in 2019, the forum would first have to submit the application to amend the system to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The implementation of the new grading system thus depended on the approval of Senzeni Zokwana, the minister of DAFF, as well as the publication thereof in the Government Gazette.

De Villiers said the new grading system would help support sustainable wheat production in South Africa.

Farmer’s Weekly had previously reported that South Africa imported most of its wheat from eastern European countries such as Russia and Ukraine, with more than half of the wheat consumed in South Africa imported.

However, imported wheat was of a slightly lower quality than locally produced wheat, but low local profit margins had contributed to the decline in wheat production in the country. The new grading criteria would affect both price and yield, he said.

“The relaxation of the release criteria for new cultivars with a higher yield potential will [contributre to ensuring] long-term sustainable wheat production locally. The new grading criteria are expected to positively impact prices as well. We also welcome the fact that the process is supported by the local milling industry,” De Villiers added. – Annelie Coleman