Date: 13/04/2010
Source: The Inkatha Freedom Party
Title: IFP: Cebekhulu: Speech by IFP Member of Parliament on the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries budget vote, National Assembly

Honourable Chairperson,

The IFP believes this to be a most critical vote particularly for the
improvement of food security.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has the immense task
of ensuring that our country does not rely solely on imported foodstuffs.
The Department must look at ways in which the government can assist our own
farmers in being as competitive as their overseas counterparts, ways in
which we can assist the farmers in lowering production costs thereby
ensuring cheaper retail prices to consumers. The department must also look
at ways in which we can boost our own agricultural sector by assisting our
farmers in a manner which will lead to increased food production and also by
encouraging South Africans to buy and support local products.

In order for this to be a success, the Department must ensure that people
living on communal land receive assistance in obtaining farming equipment
and skills development training and must be encouraged, at the very least,
to be self sustainable.

The IFP applauds the Department on its programmes of support services, trade
and agricultural development, food and Bio-security, but at the same time
tasks the Department to do more. We have high unemployment and breadwinners
are unable to support their families, these people must be prioritized and
assisted by the Department.

Genetically modified foods need to be analyzed very carefully for harmful
chemicals used in the production of such foods as these chemicals eventually
end up in the blood systems of consumers and some have been known to have
very dangerous health implications. The department has a responsibility to
the people of South Africa to conduct all the necessary due diligence tests
on GM food crops.

From the 1st to the 3rd February of this year, the Portfolio Committee
visited the Ministry's farming projects in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu
Natal. These projects are dismal failures. The money spent of acquiring
these farms has been wasted for the simple reason that the farms are not
productive; in fact they are producing nothing. Wherein lies the problem?
And how can we learn from this so that it does not occur again?

The IFP hopes that in the Department's new approach of categorizing farmers
into three groupings the Minister will provide a clear allocation of funding
for these categories, one which will maximize and promote the best yields.

The Minister has also indicated that the Department will be providing a R50
million allocation per province for the purchase of tractors and other
farming equipment for rural and previously disadvantaged communities. The
IFP welcomes this move as it will go a long way in improving the lives of a
great many South Africans.

There are still numerous challenges though, one of them being an adequate
water supply to rural farming communities. It has been said that rivers are
drying up due to an infestation of alien plant growth, this must be
investigated and addressed by the Department as a matter of urgency as lack
of water leads to poor crops and grazing land. Another being the recent
outbreak of Rift Valley Fever which must also be quickly isolated and
eradicated.

That being said, the IFP supports the budget vote.

I thank you.