HGCA pledges 11.5 million to help levy payers

The Home Grown Cereals Authority is to spend 11.5 million over the next year to help levy payers improve their profitability.

The annual business plan, unveiled yesterday (June 8), will focus on research and development, market information and activities to improve crop production and marketing of grain.

“Our new approach is to be more customer-focused and to deliver what our levy payers want,” said HGCA chief executive, Paul Biscoe.

“HGCA is seeking to achieve maximum efficiency from existing resources, to constrain expenditure and also to communicate the results of its work in five easy-to-identify campaigns.”

The campaigns include: planning for profit; producing quality crops; storage and selling; buying and processing; and safe wholesome food, due to be launched on July 1.

A key aim of the HGCA is to increase the uptake of information this season, Dr. Biscoe added.

“This is essential if farmers and processors are to compete profitably in the current difficult market conditions.

“Unless HGCA funded work is put into practice, no benefit can be derived for their businesses or the industry at large.”