DIRECTORS’ VISIT TO THE EASTERN CAPE

Fanie Ferreira and Colin Welbeloved as directors on the Board visited the farmers in the EC, who wanted to speak to the directors about the new page that the MPO has turned.

In mid-August they paid a flash visit to farmers who had questions, and we also used this opportunity to get an audience with other farmers to engage with them on the changes envisaged for the new road ahead.

Watershed questions were asked to get the maximum input from dairy farmers present at the meetings. With an open floor approach, farmers were given the opportunity to ask any and every question they might have. The conversations gave some direction on what the farmers deemed as non-negotiable.

Some aspects touched on were:

• Pledge from farmers not to repeat mistakes made in the past
• Put relevant and up-to-date information in the reach of farmers for them to use
• Farmers want the MPO to focus on what directly affects them
• Biggest challenge for farmers is the retailers
• Industry must get the housewives on its side
• The MPO must identify the retailers who import products
• The MPO must be the watchdog/hawk of the industry
• Producers are the ones who can take on the retail sector (not the processors)
• The MPO must get to the bottom of irregularities and illegal imports
• The MPO must have core info available for farmers, to enable them to negotiate tariffs successfully
• Assurance that no swindling has taken place
• Shared ideas on the plans for our future
• Resisting the drop in buyers’ price for milk
• Is the MPO on the right track?
• The inappropriate structure of the MPO being corrected
• Shares of subsidiary companies sold off
• The Dairy Mail will still be published
• Note: every article is in both languages through quick response (QR) code
• Process/requirements of new person taking the MPO forward
• Retirement policy put in place

The MPO is an organisation for dairy farmers and the directors expressed the hope that it be perceived as a vehicle to help them in their everyday struggles. After many discussions, it became clear that we are in the same boat towards a better future for dairy production. Fanie and Colin have pledged their continuous support to the farmers together with the focused workforce left after restructuring was finalised.

Farmers were seen at Addo, Alexandria, Jeffreys Bay, Oyster Bay, Humansdorp district, and the Tsitsikamma area. Engagement with other branches will take place on the next visit.

We are happy with the outcome of the visit: management has heard the opinion of dairy farmers, representing more than 55 dairy parlours in the province and will align its priorities accordingly. The farmers had a chance to air their opinions to the directors, on the way forward for the MPO.