Senwes Integrated Reports Senwes 2016/2017 Integrated Report | Page 8

6 senwes integrated report 2017 365 REVIEW QUARTER 1 QUARTER 2 Successful installation of a solar power system at Senwes head of­ fice, which has already contributed to a decrease of 1 338 897 kWh and electricity saving of R2 million for the year. Development and rolling-out of the Senwes loyalty scheme (AgriRe­ wards) and concomitant website (www.agrirewards.co.za) for the registration of participants in AgriRewards. R52 million was allocat­ ed to registered AgriRewards participants this year in terms of the loyalty scheme. Nation in Conversation hosted 770 guests in studio during the 11 panel dis­cussions at Nampo 2016. Panel discussions could be fol­ lowed live via the newly developed Nation in Conversation applica­ tion and viewers could actively participate in discussions.      Tradevantage, the soft commodity trading house, was successful in the tender for the Meadows delive­ring contract as of 1 May 2016. A research and impact study unit was established. Senwes Equipment and JDI conclude an agency agreement with JCB. JDI concludes contract to take over the mechanisation division of Agrico in Western and part of Eastern Cape. Senwes Equipment concludes contract to take over the mechanisa­ tion division of Agrico in Eastern and Northen Cape. Prodist, the bulk retail wholesaler, was nominated as Distributor of the Year by Afrox. Implementation of the Prodist warehouse outsourcing project to InSync, with an expected 40% increase in efficiency. The Graintech project, an initiative of the Senwes Grainlink division, to accept grain earlier was launched. 40% of the crop was received under the new advanced conditions. The accelerated grain handling project, which increased the hand­ ling rate by 87%, was implemented at six silos this year and will contri­bute to improved service delivery levels to the producer for the coming year. Participation in various drought aid actions by the Senwes group, which includes a cash donation of R1 million and Hinterland's subsi­ dy of R7 million. Grainovation was also involved with the transporting of fodder donations. Group volume instrument was taken out to hedge Senwes against drought. Should there have been a drought in 2017, the instrument would have paid R150 million to R200 million.    http://senwes.co/NiCNampo2016 The establishment of a business development unit which analyses the every-day business activities of Senwes with the objective to re­ design and develop creative solutions and business plans, thereby maximising and unlocking opportunities and creating value. Senwes placed its hedge fund, in co-operation with Absa Asset Man­ agement, in the market. The platform for this fund was designed after having achieved success internally with this type of trading for five years. Grasland launched a deferred payment scheme and customers could purchase lime, which they could deferred payment to a later date. Hinterland, the agricultural retail JV, negotiated a long-term strategic agreement with a major supplier to support their fuel stra­tegy, which will contribute to a 23% increase in margins. Senwes real-time weather network and database were implemented with 107 new weather stations in our area of operations.