 |
It is estimated that the developing agricultural sector produced between 7 000 and 14 000 tons of groundnuts per year during the past 5 years.
Groundnuts are mainly produced in the North West Province (61%), Free State (24%) and Northern Cape (11%).
An estimated 82 600 ha were planted to groundnuts for commercial use during the 1999/2000 production season, as against 94 550 ha the previous season, with an expected crop of 122 261 tons as against 124 343 tons. The decrease in plantings was mainly due to unfavourable weather conditions during planting time. However, favourable weather conditions that prevailed during the growing season, resulted in a good yield of 1,48 t/ha for 1999/2000.
A survey, which was done during August 2000, indicated that producers intended to plant 70% more groundnuts for 2000/01 than during the 1999/2000 production season. The expected increase in the planting of groundnuts can mainly be ascribed to the fact that producers intended to plant less maize.
Plantings, production and the yield of groundnuts from 1995/96 to 1999/2000 are as follows:
|
Season |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Plantings
(ha) Production
(t) Yield
(t/ha) |
152
000 130
300 0,86 |
95
000 95
300 1,00 |
59
100 65
460 1,11 |
94
550 124
343 1,32 |
82
600 122
261 1,48 |
It is estimated that the developing agricultural sector
produced between 7 000 and 14 000 tons of groundnuts per year during
the past 5 years.
The average producer prices of groundnuts from 1995/96 to 1999/2000 are as follows:
|
Season |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 R/t |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Producer
prices |
2
200 |
1
001 |
1
976 |
1
538 |
2
461 |
The producer price for groundnuts increased by 60% to R2 461/ton during 1999/2000. The domestic price is more or less on a par with the international price and is not influenced much by the size of the local crop, because only a fraction of the domestic crop is produced for the international markets.
Consumption
The local consumption of
groundnuts for 1999/2000 is estimated at 67 000 tons, of which 8 000
tons are used for oil and oil cake, 22 000 tons for peanut butter, 28 000
tons for the direct consumer market, 4 000 tons for seed and the rest for
on-farm uses. The per capita consumption
is estimated at 1,78 kg, as against 1,54 kg for 1998/99.
 |
Local
stocks of groundnuts at the end of February 2001 are expected to be 72 000
tons. Exports of 15 600 tons of groundnuts have already been taken into
consideration to arrive at this figure. It is estimated that between 30 000
and 50 000 tons of groundnuts are exported annually.
Therefore, it is expected that more exports will take place before the end of
the 2000/01 marketing season.
On 30 June 1998, the Oilseeds Board terminated its functions. All assets of the Oilseeds Board were transferred to the Oil and Protein Development Trust to be used for the benefit of the whole oilseeds industry. No statutory levies are applicable and the marketing of oilseeds is free from government intervention. With regard to exports, phytosanitary requirements and quality standards must be adhered to and a PPECB certificate must be obtained.
The information function is performed by Grain South Africa and the South African Grain Information Services (SAGIS), a section 21 Company funded by, amongst others, the oilseeds industry. Notices regarding Registration and Records and Returns were promulgated in the Government Gazette to be administered by SAGIS.
Research is financed with income from the Trust and performed by the ARC, CSIR and other organisations.