South Africa’s nine provinces are ready to plant and harvest one-million hectares of fallow land in rural areas, says Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana.

Delivering his Budget Vote in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Friday, Zokwana said for this financial year, the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) has been allocated an amount of R1.8-billion, R460-million for Ilima/Letsema and R67.8-million for Landcare.

“As such, our provinces are geared to plant and harvest one-million hectares of fallow land in rural areas, and 70% of the CASP budget has been allocated to implement Fetsa Tlala.

“For this financial year, the department will transfer R1.4-billion through CASP,” he said.

Zokwana said preliminary results of a joint study with the then Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency recommend an improvement in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of all funded departmental projects.

“I am pleased to announce that a National Agricultural Information Management System will be institutionalised to improve on the planning, monitoring and evaluation of all departmental funded projects,” he said.

The minister also announced that all provincial departments of agriculture will be required to present economic development plans, which analyse how best project selection and allocation of all grant funds could lead to local economic development.

He said this is necessary as it will help the department to measure the successes and failures of its projects, as well as the potential impact at an economic level.

Zokwana said the provincial departments have taken up the challenge to create one-million jobs by 2030, and transform the countryside into sustainable economic centres as envisaged by the New Growth Path (NGP), the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), which are all encompassed in the National Development Plan (NDP).

“The programmes our provincial Departments of Agriculture are geared to deliver will be able to create an enabling environment through which the sector could create one-million jobs.

“The objectives of provincial strategies will be to embark on radical socio-economic transformation, pushing back the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“We see our provincial departments as the cold face of our war against poverty and food insecurity,” he said.
The recently released General Household Survey shows that South Africa currently has 2.8-million households involved in agricultural production. Of these, 299 000 are smallholder farmers.

What the survey also shows is that only 26% of smallholder farmers receive government support. Zokwana said this clearly indicates a need to expand on the depth and reach of their support programmes.

Expanding agricultural trade

The minister said South Africa was expanding its footprint, with China becoming a growing market for its agricultural produce.

To date, Africa accounts for 32% of SA’s trade and remains a growing market for agricultural produce, although it is from a low base compared to the European markets.

“In China, we have found a growing market for our agricultural produce. The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has been instrumental in assisting producers in the wine industry with accessing marketing opportunities through international trade fairs in countries like China.

“We must however, challenge ourselves to translate export gains into opportunities for local economic development and job creation,” he said.

Livestock sector

Zokwana said the livestock sector plays a crucial role in the economy of resource-poor communities.
About 40% of livestock in South Africa is owned by black smallholder farmers. The minister vowed to continue to expand the animal improvement schemes to transform the sector, using the Nguni Cattle Development Programme of the North West as an example.

He said interventions through veterinary services will include the distribution of 28 mobile vet clinics, which are equipped with medicine and technology.

Zokwana said compulsory community service for newly qualified vets will be rolled out in the 2015/16 financial year.

The forestry sector

Zokwana said the forestry sector offers a long-term investment opportunity for rural economic development.

He said the first state forest will be transferred to the Tembe-Mbila-Mabaso communities through their Traditional Authorities in KwaZulu-Natal.

“We will use the Forestry Charter to further accelerate transformation and economic development,” he said.

The Landcare Programme is a flagship programme in enhancing the sustainable use of the country’s natural resources.

Zokwana said sustainable management of land, soil, water, and climate systems is critical for sustainable use of our resources and food security.

“A further benefit is the potential to create jobs. The Landcare programme has been able to rehabilitate 200 000 hectares since 2010 and create 62 000 jobs over the same period.

“We have a total budget of R 67.8-million to rehabilitate 30 000 hectares and create 9 000 jobs for the current financial year,” he said.

To address the challenge of loss of prime agricultural land through degradation and competing demands, Zokwana said they have formulated the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Framework (PDALF), adding that consultations are currently underway with all stakeholders.