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The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to expedite the process of water right transfers to emerging farmers. Emerging farmers often face special challenges such a lack of capital, which means that their sensitivity to water right transfer delays is especially high. In most cases, an emerging farmer cannot afford to wait for another planting season before having proper access to water resources.

In a study recently conducted, it was found that of the 138 cases analysed, only four applications for water transfers had been approved within the given timeframe. This meant that approximately 2100 ha were not transferred, leading to an estimated loss of agriculture income of R308 million and a loss of 2600 job opportunities.

An additional survey indicated that approximately 97000 ha of underdeveloped land was available for irrigation by emerging farmers in seven of South Africa’s 19 water catchment areas, but that, to date, only a limited portion of this had been developed by the farmers, due to the slow progress of water rights transfers. In this way, the agriculture, forestry and fishery department is impeding the growth not only of emerging farmers, but indeed all farmers.

I will be posing questions on this issue to the minister. Urgent action is required on her part and I shall be addressing this issue at every possible opportunity.