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
- Linking farmers to markets and market development
- Information management system
This is done through research as commissioned by the NAMC or requested by directly affected groups. Examples of requested studies done by MERC lately are the “Functioning of the agricultural futures market for grains and oilseeds” and “The impact of the Namibian Small Stock Marketing Scheme on South Africa”. An internal study that was finalised this year was “The impact of market power and dominance of supermarkets on agricultural producers in South Africa: A case study of the South African dairy industry”.
Other regular publications include:
- Quarterly Food Price Monitors for rural and urban areas
- Monthly NAMC-DAFF TradeProbe
- Various Input Cost Monitors
- Annual Food Cost review.
Other areas were MERC is involved include collaboration with agribenchmark 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.
Industry Trusts Management
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ACTIVITIES
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Management of Agricultural Trusts
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Manage the Agricultural Trusts through:
- Recruitment and selection of trustees;
- Introduce trustees desk;
- Present roles and responsibilities to stakeholders;
- Report to DAFF/Ministry about developments Agricultural Trusts business.
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Communication between the Ministry/Trustees
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- Coordinate trustees meetings:
- Development of agenda;
- Consolidate information from relevant stakeholders;
- Coach trustees on contents of deliberations made from such meetings;
- Provide ad-hoc report on strategic developments;
- Provide two annual reports for the Minister.
- Council liaison
- Portfolio members are kept informed on a regular basis on all work progress and trustees developments.
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Appointment of Ministerial Trustees
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- Facilitate the appointment
- Recruitment and selection of trustees
- Enforcement of accountability.
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Empowerment of Trustees
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- Enforce the service level agreement (SLA)
- Provide orientation for trustees on trust matters
- Capacitate trustees on their responsibilities
- Enhance participation in meetings through operational responsibilities.
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Linkage of Trusts with provincial governments
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- Assist trust on transformation collaboration.
- Link the trustees’ participation to government programmes/projects/initiatives.
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