NPR - THE SOUTH AFRICAN CANEGROWERS ASSOCIATION LARGE SCALE GROWER COSTS SURVEY: THE DYNAMIC USE OF DATA OVER TIME AND THE CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE

Abstract:
The South African CANEGROWERS Association (CANEGROWERS) has since 1927 represented growers and provided services to growers in South Africa on all manner of economic, governance and industrial affairs. To do this the Association has needed a strong data gathering and analysis component to the structure to ensure that it can negotiate fairly and accurately on behalf of its constituents. The Large-Scale Grower (LSG) Cost Survey has played a prominent role in the association’s functions. The cost survey was first implemented in 1932/33 and was done so to assist in the industry Division of Proceeds (DoP).  However, since 2000/01 the DoP has been fixed, the data collected is used for a host of other research, analysis, lobbying submissions and reports. These outcomes are all based on the CANEGROWERS objectives to ensure sustainable production environment for all growers. This paper documents the formation of the growers’ association and the importance for growers to collect and analyse data. It also describes the different uses of the data collected and analysis over time from the days of the variable DoP to the present day, where it is used for various applied research, analysis, reports and submissions to accurately represent growers and their economic situation.
Keywords: growers, cost survey, data, analysis, research