Mandate, Mission and Objectives

SGI Home | Who are we? | Mandate | Mission | Objectives | Technology Objectives  | History

Mandate

The ARC-Small Grain Institute is one of the crop institutes of the Agricultural Research Council which has, under the Agricultural Research Act of 1990 (Act no 86 of 1990), the mandate to perform research, development and technology transfer within the RSA, to the advantage of all agricultural and agriculture-related industries, and to thus improve the quality of life of all South Africans.

Mission

The Small Grain Institute is committed to the creation of relevant crop production technology and the supply of superior disease, pest and drought-tolerant cultivars that have acceptable agronomic and quality characteristics. It is also committed to rendering the necessary support services and transferring effective technology to all small-grain producers and processing industries in South Africa, regardless of the size of the enterprise. Innovative technological solutions are implemented to maintain and extend the contribution that the small-grain industry makes to the wealth and social welfare of all people of the country, while conserving the country’s national resources.

Objectives

• Develop improved and adapted small grain cultivars for all production areas in the RSA
• Improve the quality of all supplied grains
• Determine the adaptation and cultivation needs of all recommended small-grain cultivars in the RSA
• Establish environment-friendly methods of plant protection
• Optimise the recommendations regarding tillage, plant nutrition and irrigation techniques
• Effectively create and transfer technology with regard to commercial and small farmer development
• Utilise all available resources in harmony with nature to ensure maximum profitability for the small grain producer
• Nationally coordinate all projects in collaboration with all role players 

Technology Objectives

The core of the technology objectives of this Institute are as follows: The establishment of improved and adapted small-grain cultivars for all production areas in South Africa. Increasing the quality of all supplied grains. Determining the adaptation and cultivation needs of all recommended small-grains cultivars in South Africa. The establishment of environmentally sound methods of plant protection. Optimising the recommendations regarding tillage, plant nutrition and irrigation techniques. The effective creation and transfer of technology with regard to small farmer development. The utilisation of all available resources in harmony with nature to ensure maximum profitability for the small-grains producer. National and even international co-ordination of all projects in collaboration with all other role-players thus widening our circle of partnerships.