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Marketing and Economic Research Centre (MERC)

The Marketing and Economic Research Centre (MERC) was established to enhance the mandate of the NAMC through the MAP Act. MERC is involved in five main focusing areas namely:

§ Mapping, understanding and quantifying agro-food chains

Trade

Linking farmers to markets and market development

Risk management

Information management system

This is done through research as commissioned by the NAMC requested by the Minister Of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department Minister Of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) or requested by directly affected groups.

Other regular publications include:

Food Price Monitors

NAMC-DAFF TradeProbe

Input Cost Monitors
Food Cost review

Other areas were MERC is involved include collaboration with agri benchmark and two local universities to benchmark grain and beef farming internationally, regular appearances at conferences and farmers days, serve on industry committees and hosting of AEASA business office.

Research

R&D Scope and Nature
It is recognised that by addressing R&D in a shotgun approach will result in fragmented output making it difficult to derive any meaningful conclusions in a holistic manner that can be used by DAGs and for effective policy making.

In this regard the importance of different agricultural sub-sectors needs to be recognised and represented in the NAMC R&D agenda.

The R&D matrix approach as shown in the diagram below is very useful in this regard since it allows for a proper delineation of R&D on a sub-sector basis, as well as the monitoring and evaluation thereof.

Impact

Areas of impact

It is foreseen that the MERC R&D initiatives will impact on five main areas. These are highlighted in the diagram below.

What's New and Press Releases

AEASA conference 2010
TradeProbe (No 27 May 2010) (
July 2010)
Trade Centre Supply Chain and
Logistics Development Programme (July 2010)
Quarterly Food Price Monitor
(February 2010)
Generic Promotional Campaigns
for Agricultural Products (July 2010)
Statutory Measures in SA and Australia (July 2010)
Input Cost Monitor -
Production Costs Of Vine Grapes (July 2010)

Input Cost Monitor -
The Impact Of Electricity Costs
On A Typical Irrigation Farm (July 2010)