Chairperson, hon Minister, hon MECs, hon members and department personnel, good afternoon. Minister, I would like to start by thanking you for sending a team from the department to the Intsika Yethu Municipality, specifically to the Ncora Irrigation Scheme in the Chris Hani District Municipality in April this year.
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs conducted oversight on two irrigation schemes in the Eastern Cape and what we observed in Ncora was shocking. This restituted farm was not operational and all the infrastructure, equipment and livestock with an estimated value of R7 million that had been provided to the community, as part of the restitution process, was auctioned off for about R35 000. The buildings and infrastructure were vandalised. We have completed our oversight report on this case and are now waiting for the final report from your department, Minister, so that further action can be taken against the responsible parties.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has a great potential to assist our government in the fight against poverty as the sectors play a central and critical role in providing employment producing food for the country and generating income as well as in the subsistence of the rural poor.
The roles that agriculture, forestry and fisheries play in food security, through providing goods and services to the rural poor, make them very important sectors in a developing country like South Africa.
These three sectors have the potential to revive the rural economy of South Africa, and with appropriate policies and support they can make a significant contribution to addressing the country's current socioeconomic challenges. Although these sectors remain a priority, our government is faced with the challenge of balancing these priorities with other priority sectors such as education, health and rural development.
Rural development and the creation of employment are top government priorities that will receive specific focus during the MTEF period, as mentioned by the President in the 2010 state of the nation address and the Minister of Finance, Mr Gordhan, during the presentation of the Budget Speech.
To ensure improvement in rural productivity and enhancement of rural livestock, the focus on rural development necessitates a strengthened and effective collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
Agriculture is expected to play a central role in rural development by linking food security with the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, CRDP, as well as with the Land and Agrarian Reform Project, whilst forestry and fisheries are key economic drivers for the country.
Therefore, our government's priorities through which agriculture will play a role in rural development during the MTEF period include improving government's support to small-scale and emerging farmers through the integration of agricultural support programmes with land reform; ensuring that 60% of the rural households can provide for their food needs by 2014; and creating jobs, particularly for the youth.
Furthermore, the department plans to complete an agricultural production strategy in 2010 to promote the growth and development of subsistence, smallholder and commercial producers through different commodity groups and strategies. This should be fully supported as this is what is needed for the sector.
The departmental policy's central focus is to address the challenges that are faced by rural and vulnerable people by empowering them to create co- operatives and small, micro and medium enterprises, SMMEs; to facilitate access to development finance; and to improve capacity-building and mentorship. These initiatives are all urgently required and fully supported by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs.
The agriculture support service programme is a new programme that provides agricultural training; extension and advisory services; scientific research and technology; risk and disaster management services; and the promotion of equitable access and commercial viability of emerging farmers. This is a service that is fully supported and required for the sector.
The forestry programme priorities include developing a strategy and a fund for the SMMEs in the sector; developing a strategy to address timber shortages; establishing extension support for emerging growers and entrepreneurs; and reducing the regulatory burden on small and emerging businesses. This programme is responsible for ensuring sustainable management of plantations, natural or indigenous forests and woodlands to realise their optimal social, environmental and economic benefits.
The priorities of the fisheries programme include establishing and revitalising state-owned hatcheries; developing aquaculture development zones; cage culture pilot projects in state-owned waterworks and coastal areas; and doing research and development on candidate culture species.
All these mechanisms are fully supported as they relate to the key focus areas of our government. The department also needs to address the issue of fishing rights and quotas for our marginalised communities - too many fishing communities are out of work and poverty-stricken.
The core business and mandate of the Marine Living Resources Fund is to manage the development and sustainable use of the country's marine and coastal resources, as well as to protect the integrity and quality of the marine and coastal ecosystem.
However, due to the split of the Marine Living Resources Fund's functions between the two departments, the allocated funds to operate the research and surveillance vessels were not transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries along with the fund. The fund is only allocated a government grant for the marine aquaculture function. This is a very serious concern, particularly with regard to the monitoring and surveillance of our seas, as the country faces challenges with regard to poaching of marine resources.
Marine research is also important as it guides marine activities and provides the scientific basis for setting the catch limits which the fishing industry can harvest in a sustainable manner during its commercial operations. In its strategic plan for 2010-11, the department plans to do research on the catch limits for 22 fishery sectors and ecosystem interactions. However, the fisheries budget is not adequate to enable all these activities as almost 95% of the programme budget is spent on compensation of employees. This is an area of concern for the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs.
Currently the department administers three conditional agricultural grants to provinces, namely the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, Casp, Ilima/Letsema and the LandCare programme grants. In this MTEF period, Casp, which aims to provide support to newly established emerging farmers, is allocated a R2,9 billion grant which is spread out as R862,4 in the 2010- 11 financial year; R979,3 million in 2011-12; and R1 billion in 2012-13.
The Casp grant also includes the extension recovery plan which focuses on improving extension services through training and provision of equipment for extension officers.
The department's outputs for Casp are all based on infrastructure provision, namely fencing, livestock, poultry structures, boreholes, water systems and tractors. This is a serious concern as the required support for emerging farmers goes beyond infrastructure provision.
Given the provided infrastructure, the government is silent on concrete plans on how it will improve and increase agriculture production; provide post-settlement support; build capacity and improve farmers' skills, including agribusiness training; and improve information systems for planning and decision-making; as well as how it will improve farm income through job creation and food security. These are all desired outcomes for Casp but can never be met by only providing infrastructure.
The department measures performance by the number of projects and beneficiaries involved in these projects. However, it fails to give details of the benefits that have accrued and their impact on the communities in relation to the funds that were invested.
The LandCare programme, which aims to optimise productivity and the sustainable use of national resources, is allocated a grant of R173 million in the MTEF period. The LandCare programme does very little for sustainable use of agriculture and natural resources. While some of its activities are commendable, some are misplaced as, for example, in the Eastern Cape where a flagship LandCare programme project was a wool production project run by the National Wool Growers' Association, NWGA. This saw lots of sheep- shearing sheds being erected throughout the province.
This specific project, although it has improved income from wool production in some areas, has, however, done very little for sustainable resource use as some of these areas where shearing sheds were erected did not even have grazing land for the sheep.
In order to ensure the optimal use of financial resources, to be effective and to avoid duplication, there is also a need for integration of the LandCare programme with other government programmes with similar objectives.
In conclusion, I would like to assert that the department has a major task ahead, however, I know that the Minister has capable hands and leadership.
Angayenza yonke le nto siyifunayo iphumelele. Ndiyabulela. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [She can accomplish all that we need. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Deputy Chair, hon Minister ...
... die Minister praat so baie mooi Afrikaans dat die boere in die Vrystaat baie bly sal wees. [...the Minister speaks Afrikaans so beautifully that the farmers in the Free State would be pleased.]
I would also like to thank our MEC present - I just see one here - Ms Qabathe from the Free State; it's good to have Free Staters here.
Firstly, I wish to thank the department on their budget presentation to the committee, our researchers and also our committee chairperson, Mrs Qikani, who serves the committee in a very professional manner, I must say.
The new Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was established in July 2009 and came into effect on 1 April 2010. The budget for this department is some R3,658 billion which, needless to say, is totally inadequate. There must be a renewed focus on the need to ensure an adequate supply of safe, nutritious and high-quality food at affordable prices.
The smallholder subsector continues to be underproductive and economically unsustainable. The majority of land reform initiatives are failures, as the beneficiaries do not obtain post-settlement financial and other support. The department must ensure that there are more extension officers with improved qualifications - and that is in the report - and better veterinary services.
Extreme weather and climate conditions impact negatively on agricultural production and the livelihood of communities. Persons with an interest in farming need to be identified and trained to ensure that production is maintained. Many claimants to land wish to own ground, but have no inclination or passion to farm or to become commercial farmers and so productive land goes to waste, which is something that South African can ill afford.
Furthermore, according to National Treasury, a shortage of capital and skills, increases in input costs and low commodity prices have led to more than two million - some people say it is five million - hectares of idle agricultural land and abandoned buildings. Our committee went on an oversight visit to Ncora and Qamata Irrigation Schemes in the Eastern Cape, as alluded to by our chairperson. There is a large dam, the Lubisi dam, with canals and holding ponds fed by gravitational force. The ground is fertile and there is water, but little support from the department. Once upon a time there were dairies, butcheries and shops; now it is only devastation as the buildings and infrastructure have been systematically stripped and plundered.
I believe there are other such neglected irrigation schemes in the country. Whilst travelling in the Eastern Cape, the extent of the soil erosion was also noted. Many persons could be gainfully employed on a short-term basis to build stone walls or fill dongas and not merely fence them off as this does not help to reverse the damage caused.
Government is now proposing a share scheme for Agri-BEE farmers with the aim of reaching land reform targets and replacing the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle. The allegations that the willing-buyer, willing- seller principle is responsible for the failure of reaching the 30% target of land transfer to disadvantaged people is also indicative of a poor understanding of the land reform policy; while it is also an admitted fact that 90% of the transferred land is unproductive.
Small agriculture businesses can hardly serve economically as they operate in small net profit margins ranging between 2% to 5% on capital. Consequently, small and medium commercial farmers are in no position to divide the income between more shareholders.
No owner of property can be forced to dispose of their rights without fair compensation. The ignoring of this basic principle will result in the total collapse of food production and the banking system. The DA proposes that government should implement a successful model first based on partnership and/or mentorship agreements for the failed farms under the land restitution process, before risking the existing successful productive farms. I thank you. [Applause.]
The House CHAIRPERSON (Ms N W Magadla): Chairperson, hon Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, hon MEC present, hon delegates and hon members, 18 May is an important day in the calendar of political events of South Africa. It is the day on which the former deputy president and secretary-general of the ANC Mr Walter Sisulu was born.
Mr Walter Sisulu was born on 18 May 1912, the same year the ANC was founded. If he were still alive he would have turned 98 years old today. He passed on in the same month he was born, that is on 5 May 2003, a few days before his 91st birthday.
In remembering the late Mr Walter Sisulu, who sacrificed his life for the liberation of his people, I'm reminded of what another stalwart, former President Nelson Mandela, said about him:
Many of us have gained positions, received accolades and have been acclaimed, but none of us match the leadership and humility of a great man Walter Sisulu.
Indeed, these observations about Mr Sisulu should inspire us. Leaders like the late Mr Walter Sisulu were humbled by the fact that the masses of our people looked up to them for guidance and leadership.
The aim of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is to support and promote agriculture, forestry and fisheries through policies and programmes that seek to enhance economic growth, food security and rural development.
As we debate this Vote we must remember that our people know what they have asked us to do. People want us to assist them with food production and food security - especially for the poor - as well as with opportunities for economic development in rural areas. This could be achieved through a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to agrarian reform, which builds the potential for rural sustainable livelihoods, particularly for African women.
In response to this, the NCOP has identified agriculture, rural development and land reform as forming part of its oversight priorities for this term of Parliament. We will be looking with keen interest at the delivery of services in these areas.
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs received briefings on 14 April 2010 from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on its policy and budget. This provided an opportunity for the committee to consider the strategic plan of the department in relation to the policy and Budget Vote. This meeting enabled the committee to determine its recommendation to this House in as far as the budget of the department is concerned.
From the briefing by the department, the committee has recommended that the department needs to put in place systems and processes to ensure that the land reform process facilitates development of the rural economies through transformation of agriculture and forestry, in order to ensure food security and the eradication of poverty. We will continue to engage the department in this regard.
During this term of an activist Parliament, we have agreed that we will be robust in exercising oversight because we want to do things differently. This must start with our ensuring that we unblock the blockages that are there in the delivery of services to our people. Oversight and accountability are central to creating a Parliament that is responsive to the needs of the people. It entails monitoring and reviewing the actions of the executive organ of government. Our approach this year is underpinned by the fact that this year is a year of action, and food security is one of the five key priorities of the ruling party.
In his state of the nation address this year, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma stated clearly that as public representatives we have to work closely with the communities. He said that we need to mobilise people to go back to the fields to produce their own food. This was reiterated by the premier of my province, KwaZulu-Natal, hon Dr Zweli Mkhize.
I am happy to note that my province has already started with this initiative and is continuing to intensify this partnership through the One Home, One Garden and One School, One Garden campaigns and many other agricultural support activities.
We urge the department to continue to support and empower women, especially rural women, to actively participate in the agricultural sector. Programmes such as Women in Agriculture and Rural Development and Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development should play a critical role in promoting food security, thereby safeguarding human life.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for production and resource management, agricultural support services, trade and economic development, food safety and biosecurity and marine aquaculture, as the chairperson has alluded to. It therefore goes without saying that agriculture has a critical role to play in boosting our economy through backward and forward linkages to the sectors.
There are already clear signs in some provinces where there have been government interventions to support people that those people are ready to make use of the land to support themselves and to earn a living. During our visit to Limpopo through the NCOP's Taking Parliament to the People programme in March this year, the people in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality raised a number of issues, including the following.
They said there is no monitoring of agricultural projects and that compromises the success and long-term sustainability of projects. Also, there is often a refusal by some people who own land to release land for development purposes. They want the department to ensure that farms that are adjacent to the main roads are properly fenced - a matter the province said they were taking up already. Lastly, the department should ensure that it monitors the progress of emerging farmers who have been trained.
These issues and many others, which were raised by the people of Limpopo during the NCOP's Taking Parliament to the People programme, are critical in strengthening the capacity of the agricultural sector. We are going to consider them, as this House, and interact with all the relevant role- players so that we can find sustainable solutions.
In concluding my input, let me remind you of the wise words of Mr Walter Sisulu in 1964, when he said:
As long as I enjoy the confidence of my people, as long as there is a spark of life and energy in me, I shall fight with courage and determination for the abolition of discriminatory laws and for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of colour or creed.
As public representatives, it is our responsibility to ensure that our people enjoy the freedom they made sacrifices for. The ANC supports the Budget Vote for the department. Thank you. [Time expired.]
Deputy Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members, I thank you for the opportunity for me to attend today. South African agriculture is at a defining moment. We are at a crossroads. While the world is grappling with the threat of food security, we are grappling with the redress of our history through access to land for all our citizens.
The question is this: Can we redress land issues, on the one hand, without eroding our ability to provide food security, on the other? This requires a balancing act between subsistence farmers, new farmers and our commercial sector. This is a tough challenge indeed.
The Minister mentioned several key focus areas in her budget address. This year's budget seeks to speak to seven issues: administration; economic development, markets and trade; food security and agrarian reform; fisheries management; forestry production and resource management; policy, planning and evaluation; and agricultural production, health and food safety. Allow me to make a few remarks touching on some of these.
Deputy Chair, the Minister mentioned internal capacity problems in her department, and I quote from her speech to the National Assembly:
The department has a clear road map for dealing with capacity issues. Vacancies will be filled quicker. The current vacancy rate of 17% will decrease to at least 5% by next year. The priority will be to fill critical senior management positions before the end of this quarter. This includes the position of the director-general of the department.
I want to congratulate the Minister on identifying a well-staffed and well- functioning department as a point of critical importance. The Minister's department has a crucial role to play in supporting agriculture, but also in transforming agriculture. We support her in this quest, and wish her all the best in this regard.
We are optimistic about the Minister's acceptance of equity schemes as a tool for promoting access to land. The Western Cape government believes that equity schemes are the best way to achieve sustainable land reform. Equity schemes can be embarked on without jeopardising food security, as the skills that ensured the success of the original business stay intact. However, we need to be aware of the high transaction costs associated with transforming a one-man business into a multiownership enterprise. These transaction costs are high, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
There are no known silver bullets to solve our land challenges, and we want to encourage and also support the Minister to proceed with caution.
Rural development is a strategic priority of the national government. Agriculture has the ability to play a leading role in rural development. It makes sense to also support existing agricultural enterprises in our rural areas, as these businesses are, in many instances, the mainstays of our rural towns.
They provide employment opportunities and pay rates and taxes. These agri- businesses are the source of much-needed revenue, for infrastructure, amongst other things. So, Deputy Chair, perhaps a little more support for the wheat farmers will have positive spin-offs for rural development.
However, we can also apply this argument to commercial agriculture as a whole. Support commercial agriculture and you are also promoting rural development. We are, therefore, pleased to hear that the hon Minister has stated today that she will support our farmers. She also stated that we should guard against flooding our markets with products from overseas producers. If we manage this properly, we will make things easier for our up-and-coming, new farmers.
When we say this, we must be honest with each other, because talk is cheap. I want to draw the Minister's attention to the following: In Port Nolloth a mariculture abalone farm of 146 ha was fenced in and not developed further. This is a waste of money.
A second case I would like to point out occurred in Alexander Bay. Just last year, the oyster farm in Alexander Bay, which once had 1,3 million oysters, was stripped by the community property association, the CPA. I anticipate that these cases, and others, will receive the hon Minister's urgent attention.
Rural safety is an area of critical concern. We are, therefore, excited about the Minister's commitment towards addressing this issue. We are looking forward to more concrete measures in this regard. Rural safety can only be achieved if all the role-players - the South African Police, organised agriculture and organised labour - work together. However, all workers, farmworkers and inhabitants of our rural towns have a responsibility in this regard.
Deputy Chairperson, the Western Cape winelands recently hit the headlines in the media regarding mining prospecting applications. This was a badly planned project. As we have been told, outdated maps were used to plot the targeted, so-called prospecting areas. The maps were so outdated that the consultants found a fully developed residential area where the prospecting was to take place.
This is an unprofessional approach and is not acceptable. It causes panic amongst residents, who suddenly hear that prospecting is going to take place right in their back yard.
Let us, as the Western Cape government, be very clear on this issue. I want to assure the hon Minister that we will always protect high-value agricultural land. It is not only mining that is competing for agricultural land.
The ever-increasing need for housing, in especially the city of Cape Town, is also putting pressure on agricultural land in our province. Let us never forget, however, that we also need to eat, and without agricultural land and farmers, we will not have food in this country. I thank you.
Thank you very much, hon member. Hon members, just for the record, and to avoid a situation where somebody might think that there has been a coup here, I am not the Deputy Chairperson of this Council. Thank you very much, hon member. May I then call on the hon De Beer of "die kongres van die mense"[Congress of the People] Cope.
Voorsitter, u is absoluut korrek met u verwysing na die kongres van die mense! [Chairperson, you were absolutely correct when you referred to the congress of the people!]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon colleagues, my office sent an official invitation to you, Minister, to come and engage with the people of the West Coast in Saldanha. I hope you are going to accept it.
In money terms, agriculture's share of the economy has declined drastically since 1930. Formerly, it was a highly regulated sector. In the past, farmers received subsidies and financial assistance. Since the 1980s, farming has been deregulated. The agricultural sector is now expected to respond to free-market conditions.
Boere is nou op hulle eie. Die koste van boerdery-insette is aanhoudend besig om te styg. Die vraag van voedselversekering moet nou vir ons almal 'n saak van ernstige kommer raak. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.) [Farmers are now left to their own devices. The costs of farming inputs are continually on the rise. The question of food security should become a very serious concern for all of us.]
Minister, what is the state of our agriculture today? Farmers are failing because of climate change and cheaper imports. Europe has the Green Box subsidy system. All but 10% of the farmers benefiting from restitution have failed.
In the past, farmers provided job opportunities for a vast number of South Africans. Today, this is not the case. During the 10-year period from 1988 to 1998 the commercial farming sector, for example, shed a staggering 140 000 regular jobs, a decline of 20%.
Die regering ondersteun nie genoeg die bestaansboerdery in Suid-Afrika nie. In die verlede, het baie landelike gemeenskappe hulle eie kos voorsien. Vandag is dit nie meer die geval nie. Minister, is die landbou in 'n krisis, of nie?
Die ander kant van die munt vertel ons dat organiese landbou die gesondheid van die grond asook mense en ekosisteme behou. Ongeveer 30 000 ha wreldwyd word nou organies gekweek. Organiese landbou kombineer tradisionele innovasie en wetenskap om die gedeelde omgewing te ondersteun en om voordeel te trek, asook om eerlike verhoudings en 'n goeie kwaliteit van lewe vir almal wat betrokke is te bevorder. Hoe ondersteun die departement organies gekweekte produkte om 'n skoner en veiliger omgewing te bevorder? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The government does not give enough support to subsistence farming in South Africa. In the past, many rural communities supplied their own food. Today that is no longer the case. Minister, is agriculture in crisis, or not?
On the other hand, with organic farming the health of the land, people and ecosystems is maintained. Worldwide organic farming takes place on approximately 30 000 ha of land. Organic farming combines traditional innovation and science to support the shared environment and to benefit from it, and to promote honest relationships and a good quality of life for everyone who is involved with the process. How does the government support organically cultivated products in order to promote a cleaner and safer environment?]
Rift Valley Fever has had an enormous, negative impact on the lives of many farmers and citizens. Are the provinces equipped to react more effectively to such outbreaks? May we also ask the Minister if there is any precaution in place to safeguard all livestock in the country? Is there an extensive system of inspection?
Landbou is 'n ernstig betwiste terrein in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van ons geskiedenis. Hoe veronderstel die departement om 'n blywende en regverdige oplossing te vind? Minister, die visbedryf in Suid-Afrika is tans besig om onder moeilike omstandighede gebuk te gaan. Vissery verteenwoordig 'n relatief klein sektor binne die nasionale ekonomie van Suid-Afrika. Die Wes-Kaap is die middelpunt van die industrie en is die dominante werkgewer in gebiede soos Saldanha, St Helena-baai en Doringbaai. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Agriculture is a seriously contested area in South Africa due to our history. How does the department envisage finding a lasting and equitable solution?
Minister, the fishing industry in South Africa is facing serious challenges at the moment. The fishing industry represents a relatively small sector within the national economy of South Africa. The Western Cape is the centre of the industry and is the dominant employer in areas such as Saldanha, St Helena Bay and Doring Bay.]
A serious issue within this sector is illegal fishing, especially involving the Far East. This increased involvement has stimulated illegal fishing. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members of the National Council of Provinces, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank Mam'uMagadla for reminding us of how important this day is. It is very humbling for me to address this august House on such an important day. We agree with our hon Minister that the murders and human rights violations of farm workers, farm dwellers and farmers can no longer be tolerated. We have to collectively fight for safety on farms. The contradictions and conflicts need the attention of both black and white.
That is why in the Free State the department of agriculture and the department of police, roads and transport have jointly donated two crime- fighting response kombis to Bultfontein DistriksLandbou, which were converted into mobile communication centres. This is intended to assist in the effective response to disasters and combating stock theft, farm killings and crime in general. And positive results have been reported already.
In working together with both black and white farmers, farm workers and farm dwellers, we are jointly going to have a clean-up campaign at Hoopstad and Bultfontein townships.
Mmoho re hlasela ditshila. [Together we are tackling dirt.]
Hon member Worth is our witness, as he is from the Free State, that the Free State agriculture budget speech was hosted jointly with the white farmers. We are in a process of building a nation.
Chair, the security of land tenure for our farm workers and farm dwellers is a constitutional matter. It is, however, regrettable that conflicts and confrontations between farmers and farm workers are still a daily occurrence.
One of the challenges facing farm workers is a lack of access to legal assistance when their basic human rights are being trampled on. This situation is created by the abject poverty in which they live. There is, therefore, a need to have an integrated, co-ordinated, interdepartmental, intersectoral, co-operative approach that involves all role-players committed to changing the current situation. It is for this reason that the Free State department of agriculture will this year call for expert advice from academia in order to support the review of the current land tenure systems, in particular the Extension of Security of Tenure Act.
As farm workers are the only labour force required to grow the agricultural economy, if the laws protecting them are weak, the sector will also collapse and vice versa. The need to support such initiatives cannot be overemphasised.
We have already collated a database of 78 cases that are still dragging at our courts of law whilst farm workers and dwellers are vulnerable on the streets. The SA Human Rights Commission and the SAPS are of great assistance in this programme.
We have invited final-year law students to go and do a case study on all the 78 cases in order to check the policy gaps and weaknesses. The outcome of such results will be presented to our farm workers summit in order to strengthen our resolutions for the summit.
The Freedom Charter states that the state shall help entrepreneurial farmers with implements, seeds, tractors and dams to save the land and assist the tillers. This is continuing to become a reality as we continue to provide farmers with mechanisation, production inputs and farming infrastructure.
Through this programme, we aim to enhance food security, farmer support and settlement. To date, 31 Free State farmers have benefited from the mechanisation programme. I must also mention that a total of 127 farmers has benefited from agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers in the different regions of the Free State.
We will continue to provide farmers with support in the new financial year through the Letsema/Ilima programme and we will implement more than 47 projects to a total amount of R26 million.
We have already completed our assessment and identified the gaps that need to be filled. The assessment is in response to the Minister's instruction that the departments of rural development and land reform and agriculture and the Land Bank compile a joint rescue plan for all the farms that are in distress. We are busy helping these farms together with the national department as led by our Minister. We will further support the development of more competitive markets. We will help farmers who are seeking to be commercialised through research and development. We will establish commodity-based co-operatives and increase the number of farmers producing for markets.
We also welcome the move by the hon Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to distribute R50 million worth of tractors in provinces in an effort to rebuild the culture and capability of food production. This will truly support our farmers as we had already started implementing a similar programme in the previous financial year. A total of more than R2 million was spent on such an initiative.
I am glad to announce that this year, under Casp, the department of agriculture in the Free State will be implementing 63 projects to a total budget of R75 million, which will in turn support 2 191 farmers and create 284 employment opportunities.
I am glad to announce that the department of agriculture in the Free State has helped two Thabo Mofutsanyane farmers with R2,5 million and R1 million respectively, to help them become breeders of Nguni and Shorthorn cattle. We have done this to ensure that we establish black agricultural entrepreneurs in areas that are regarded as a niche.
We are venturing into areas where transformation is still to be seen. Agriculture is doing well this time, hon De Beer. Surely the times you are referring to were during the apartheid era.
The Free State province, like many other provinces, experienced an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever. This outbreak affected our agricultural business adversely. In response to the outbreak, we deployed a response team comprising veterinarians and animal health technicians in conjunction with the Department of Health.
We further procured 400 000 doses of the vaccine worth R1,2 million to immunise animals in the province. Through this response, we were protecting the investment of our farmers, particularly in the export trade, which has brought a total of R188 million into the Free State province through the export of animal products to the SADC and European countries.
In support of the Minister's policy on fisheries, I want to emphasise what she has just said: Although the province is without a coastline, this did not deter the department from identifying fish farming as a new sector in order to diversify the economy in the province.
The department is currently in the process of constructing an aquaculture training and demonstration centre at the Gariep Dam in Xhariep district. The centre is envisaged as a fingerling supply station to rural aquaculture community projects in the Free State province and outside the province. The research station will provide training to agricultural scientists, technicians and farmers.
It is hoped that the skills acquired at the centre will contribute significantly to the fishing industry, not only provincially but nationally. The project has been supported by the Chinese government with a total investment of R45 million. The project has created 100 temporary jobs during the construction phase and eventually will create six permanent technical jobs, excluding the opportunities that it will create as a business.
The impact of the project will benefit the broader SADC in terms of fish farming. Through the Minister's assistance, we have a partnership with Potatoes SA to make Kgolokweng an agriprocessing hub for frozen potatoes and instant mashed potato. We are doing this together with them.
We want to say, Chairperson, that we fully support the Minister's budget speech and the tabling here of the Vote. We are proud that she does not just talk, but is also a person who propels action. I thank you. [Applause.]
UMntwana M M M ZULU: Mhlonishwa Sihlalo, mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe, abamele izifundazwe zakithi, amalungu ale Ndlu ahloniphekile, Ngqongqoshe inhliziyo yami iyajabula ukuzwa ukuthi kukhona ozokusho okwethembisayo ngalokhu okubizwa nge-food security kulelizwe lakithi. Ngiyajabula nanoma ngazi ukuthi kuzoba nezinselele ezinzima ezingase zibekhona kulokho.
Ngithi nani kufanele nithathe lokho enikubona kwenzeka kwamanye amazwe, okokulekelela uhulumeni ukuze akwazi ukwelekelela abalimi ekutheni bakwazi ukukhiqiza ukudla esingakwazi ukukuthenga ngentengo ephansi lapha ezweni lakithi. Lokho kufanele kwenzeke nalapho ngisuka khona le emakhaya, kwanja ayiphume, lapho ngazi kahle ukuthi inhlabathi isezandleni zamaKhosi.
Ngizocela ukuthi uNgqongqoshe akubhekisise ukuthi abantu bakithi bayaqeqeshwa yini kwezolimo na. Nokuthi bayanikezwa yini izinsizakusebenza zezolimo - ogandaganda njengoba uNgqongqoshe eshilo. Nanokuthi baqeqeshwa ngohlobo lwesimanje yini kanti futhi lezo zinsizakusebenza bazisebenzisa ngakho yini ukuze bakwazi ukusizakala.
Mina njengomtakaPhiwana Zulu nginombono owehlukile ukuthi kube khona ogandaganda noma izinsizakusebenza zikahulumeni ezinikezwa abantu abathile ngoba benezikhundla kodwa ngibona ukuthi kufunele bazisebenzise babuye babonelele umphakathi.
Ngithi njengoMnyango kuwumsebenzi wenu ukuqinisekisa ukuthi izisebenzi zikahulumeni kuba yizona eziphatha lezi zinsizakusebenza zikahulumeni ukuze zikwazi ukuzinikeza abalimi lapho bekhona khona. Ngoba uma uzonikeza mina kanje kuzoba sekuba nabanye abantu engingasizi ngoba ngingabathandi kahle, kanti uma unikeze umsebenzi kahulumeni uyazi ukuthi unesibopho sokuchaza ngokwenzekayo kuhulumeni. Kodwa uma ngabe unganikeza mina njengeNkosi anginasibopho sokuchazela noma ngubani ngokwenzekayo.
Lezi zinto engikhuluma ngazo Ngqongqoshe ngifisa ukuthi uzibhekisise kuzo zonke izifundazwe zakithi, futhi kubhekisiswe nokuthi izinsizakusebenza zikahulumeni ziya endaweni yoMnyango lapho nathi esizokwazi ukufinyelela khona njengabantu abakhethiwe.
Njengeqembu leNkatha siyakusekela kwisabiwomali osenzile esizonikeza izifundazwe zethu amandla okuthi zikwazi ukusiza abantu. Kufuneka ubenendlela, noma abantu abazobheka ukuthi lezo zinsizakusebenza ziyaya yini ebantwini, nokuthi futhi izinto ziyenzeka yini. Kungabi yizisebenzi zakho ezizama ukutshela abantu, kodwa akuhlalwe phansi kube nezindaba ezixoxwayo, lapho abantu besho khona ukuthi bangalima kanjani ngoba ukulima akufiki nohulumeni. Ubabamkhulu, iNkosi uDinizulu wayelima, kudliwa, kubuswa. Namanje sifisa kube njalo Ngqongqoshe, kwenzeke lokho kubhekisiswe kahle ukuthi lezi zinto ziyabasiza yini abantu.
Ngithi njengeqembu leNkatha siyasesekela isabiwomali sakho. Engicabanga ukuthi uma uNkulunkulu ekusizile uyokwazi ukuthi ubhekane naleminyaka emine ezayo esikusalele, usesikhundleni ukwazi ukusiza ukuba kuhlangatshezwane nezidingo zakithi. Ngithi nibasize ngezinto zokulima. Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Prince M M M ZULU: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, our provincial representatives, hon members of this House, hon Minister, my heart is filled with joy when I hear that you are going to say something promising about what is known as food security in our country. I am joyful even though I am aware that there might be challenges with regard to that.
You also need to do what is being done in other countries that will assist the government in helping farmers produce food that we can buy at a lower price here in our country. And that should also be done where I come from - the most remote rural areas - such as places where it is a known fact that the land is in the hands of the amakhosi.
I request the Minister to check whether our people are trained for agriculture or not, as well as whether they are furnished with agricultural equipment - like tractors, as the Minister had already mentioned. Could the Minister also ensure that they receive updated training and also see whether that equipment is being used properly for farmers to be able to find all the help they need.
I, Phiwana Zulu's son, have a different opinion - that tractors or government equipment should not be allocated to some people because they hold certain positions but I am of the opinion that they should use them and reconsider the community.
I am saying that it is your duty as the department to ensure that public servants manage the allocation of this government equipment, so that they allocate them to the farmers wherever they are. Because if you allocate them to me like this, there will be other people whom I might not assist because I don't like them. But if you allocate this task to the public servants you know that they have to be accountable to the government. But if you allocate this task to me as an inkosi, nothing binds me to account to anyone.
Hon Minister, I am requesting that you look into all these things that I have mentioned which are taking place in all our provinces and also ensure that the government's property is delivered to a department's premises where we as the representatives of the people can also have access to them.
As the IFP we support this budget you have put forward that will empower our provinces to empower the people. You need to have a mechanism, or people who will see to it that that equipment gets to the people, and check to see whether things are happening. It should not be your employees who are trying to influence people, but they must sit down with them and discuss issues, where people would say how they are going to farm because agriculture did not arrive with the arrival of government. My grandfather, iNkosi Dinuzulu, was farming, so there was food and comfort. We wish the same even now, hon Minister, and that those things should happen and we should also check whether these things are helpful to the people.
I am saying that, as the IFP, we support your budget. If God helps you, you will be able to face the challenges of the next remaining four years of your term in this position and be able to assist in meeting the needs of the people. I am saying assist them with agricultural equipment. Thank you, Chairperson.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon MEC, hon members and distinguished guests, I greet you all.
Sihlalo, ngizothanda ukuqala ngokuhalalisela amapulazi amabili noma amathathu angale la ngiphuma khona, sengathi namanye amapulazi angabonela kuwona. Ngicela ukuthi uMnu Johan Engelbrecht noMnu Phillemon Bafikane Moya baqhubeke nokuphatha kahle ipulazi i-Hirsaw Estate Farm. Elinye i- Ystervarkfontein Farm eliphethwe uMnu John Mlakalaka Fieet sengathi naye angaqhubekela phambili ngokuliphatha kahle.
Linye iphutha esilenzayo, ukuthi esikhathini esiningi uma sithuthukisa abalimi abamnyama, ngokuthi sibanike imfuyo, njalo sicabanga ukubanika izinkomo zohlobo lwaManguni kuphela. Asicabangi ukuthi nabo kubalungele ukuthola amabhramani ama-bonsmara, amasimentali kanye nezinye izinhlobo. Ngqongqoshe ngijabule kakhulu ukuthi uzovula iphrojekthi yakho eMpumalanga, kodwa ukhohlwe yinto eyodwa, ubale umqombothi kodwa wangayibala imampuru. [Uhleko.]
Ngizothanda ukukhumbuza uMKhandlu Kazwelonke Wezifundazwe ukuthi kusukela emandulo ngenkathi izifika namthwalo zifika lapha eNingizimu Afrika, zathola abantu bakule ngabadi behweba ngezimbiwa, ngemfuyo, nangokudla, njalonjalo. Lokho-ke kuyakhombisa ukuthi isizwe esimpisholo sasinalo ulwazi olunzulu kwezolimo.
Imvelo ngokwayo ingufakazi omkhulu wokuthi isizwe esimpisholo singabalimi ngokwendabuko. Lokho kufakazelwa ukuthi kunenyoni ebizwa ngokuthi "ukholwane" okuthi njalo uma kuthwasa ihlobo ikhumbuze abalimi ukuthi "phezu komkhono", okusho ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sokulima.
Futhi-ke ngaphandle kokungathekisa okwamabhoxongwane alusa imfuyo ekwaluseni bebekwazi ukwetha imfuyo amagama beyazi futhi nangemibala. Uma kufuywe izinkomo bebekwazi ukuchaza izimpondo zazo ukuthi zime kanjani ezenkomo ngayinye. Okuhlaba umxhwele ukuthi bebekwazi nokuchaza imisindo eyenziwa yimfuyo ngokwehlukana kwayo njengokuthi: igalukuni uma likhala lithi: ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, firstly, I would like to congratulate the management of the two or three farms from the area where I come from, and I wish that other farms could also emulate them. I would like to commend Mr Johan Engelbrecht and Mr Phillemon Bafikane Moya for effectively managing the Hirsaw Estate Farm and ask them to continue to do so. The other farm is Ystervarkfontein Farm which is managed by Mr John Mlakalaka Fieet and may he also carry on doing a good job.
The one mistake we make most of the time when we develop black farmers by allocating livestock to them, is that we always think of giving them Nguni cattle only. We do not think that they are also entitled to get the brahmans, the bonsmaras, the simmentals and other kinds of livestock.
Hon Minister, I am overjoyed that you will launch your project in Mpumalanga, but you have forgotten one thing: You only mentioned the traditional umqombothi beer but you did not mention the mampuru [mampoer]. [Laughter.]
I would like to remind the NCOP that in the olden days when the immigrants first came to South Africa, they found the indigenous people trading in minerals, livestock, food, etc. This then indicates that black people had a profound knowledge of agriculture.
Even nature itself bears great testimony to the fact that black people are farmers by nature. There is a bird known as the Kholwane [cuckoo] which also testifies to that, for it always announces the arrival of spring to those who plough by singing: "Get your hoes and work", meaning that it is time to plough.
And besides the herd boys speaking figuratively, they also had the skill of giving names to livestock and they also knew these animals by colour. They could also define the shape of each cow's horns. What is most exciting is that they also knew how to distinguish the sounds made by different animals, for example when a turkey gobbles it says ...]
... want gister het ek nie kos gekry nie. [... because I didn't have anything to eat yesterday.]
Liphendule ihansi lithi... [Interjections.] [And the goose would respond by saying ...]
... ja, ja, vra nog [yes, yes, ask for more].
Eminyakeni eyedlule ubabamkhulu wayehlala eMpumalanga epulazini limbe ngase- Morgenzon. Kwabakhona umlungu ofikayo kulelo pulazi, owayengenalo ngisho nelilodwa nje idada leli, wabe esecela ukukhusela kumkhulu. Umkhulu wayenesipani zezinkabi eziyisithupha ayelima ngazo kodwa wayengenawo amalungelo wokuyothengisa umbila esigayweni. Ngakho-ke ngesikhathi esakhusele kumkhulu, wacela ukulima isiqeshana sendawo ukuze akwazi ukumelekelela uma sekuyiwa esigayweni. Kwatholakala ukuthi uma sekufikwa emakethe le ndaba ayisalungi ngoba umkhiqizo awubange usathola inani eliwufanele. Kwamthukuthelisa lokho ubabomkhulu wase ethi akasayingeni leyo. Okubuhlungu ukuthi wagcina esekhishwa ngendluzula kulelo pulazi.
Ngichaza ukuthi Ngqongqoshe, kufanele sihlonze izimakethe ezizokwazi ukuthi zisetshenziswe abelungu nabantu abamnyama, lapho esizozizwa semukelekile khona. Enye into ebuhlungu futhi eyinselele ukuthi, iningi labalimi manje seliyekile ukulima ukudla, kodwa seliyafuya kuphela njengoba sikhuluma nje. Kanti abanye abelungu banciphisa imfuyo, baphendula amapulazi aba yiziqiwi zezinyamazane.
Abanye abalimi sebelima i-organic food, okusho ukuthi esikhathini esingengakanani indaba yokudla izoba yinselele enkulu lapha kwelakithi. Bese ngibuye ngizikhalele, ukuthi uma uyilungu lePhalamende lokho akusho ukuthi uyohlala uyilo njalo. Ngakho-ke kufanelekile ukuthi nathi singamalungu ePhalamende sibe nawo amalungelo okuhlomula kulokhu okwenziwa uhulumeni, ngoba okwamanje uma uyilungu lePhalamende noma ngabe uyalithanda ipulazi kodwa kawufanele ukuba nalo. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Some years ago my grandfather was living on a certain farm in Mpumalanga near Morgenzon. A certain white man who came to live on that farm had nothing, not even a single duck. He then asked my grandfather for shelter. My grandfather had a span of six oxen he used for ploughing but he did not have rights to sell his maize at the mill. Therefore, while the man was still living in my grandfather's shelter, he asked for a piece of land to plant some maize so that my grandfather could access the mills through him. But when he got to the market he found that things did not go well because of the meagre amount that was paid out for his produce. That upset my grandfather and he said that he was not going to be part of that setup anymore. Sadly, in the end, he was forcefully removed from his farm.
What I am saying, hon Minister, is that we must identify markets that can be accessed by both black and white farmers, where we could all feel welcome. One other sad and challenging thing is that most of the farmers have stopped planting food now, and are only keeping livestock as we speak, whilst others are reducing their livestock and converting their farms into game reserves.
Some farmers are now planting organic food, meaning that in the near future food security will be a major challenge in our country. And I am also making an appeal for myself that if you are a Member of Parliament that does not mean that will always be the case. Therefore it is appropriate that we too as Members of Parliament should benefit from what the government is doing, because for now, if you are a Member of Parliament even if you like farming you cannot own a farm.]
The prevailing structure of commercial agriculture is the outcome of centuries of dispossession, labour coercion and state subsidies for the chosen few. Since 1994, commercial agriculture has continued to develop in a manner that is characterised by a growing concentration of ownership and farm size, underutilisation of vast tracts of land, capital intensity, job- shedding and casualisation of labour.
While deregulation, liberalisation and the resulting competitive pressure on the sector have eliminated many of the privileges of the large-scale farm sector, various aspects of policy and legislation still reinforce the legacy of the past, making it difficult to redistribute land to the modern and competitive smallholder sector.
At the same time, commercial agriculture has also reacted to legislation intended to protect the rights of the workers and farm dwellers by sharply reducing their number, resulting in significant job losses and the painful evictions of people living on farms.
Commercial farming has been one of the pillars of our economy. There has been a notable, consistent domestic supply of horticultural, livestock, forestry and aquacultural intermediate and final goods. To a considerable extent, this has guaranteed the local availability of food, timber and other such necessities. The demand for these goods has been high and has gradually pushed the prices to a range that the poor cannot afford.
Market forces have been dominantly dictating the distribution of intermediate and final goods. The resulting inaccessibility of goods to the toiling masses of our people has been worsened by occasional price-fixing of wheat and dairy products by the cartels, which exercise a strong monopoly on the agricultural sector in the country.
The ANC government has to ensure that the interests of the farm dwellers' children are paramount and that their rights to quality education are promoted, protected, and fulfilled. In the same vein, the ANC government must ensure that the poor are protected from the greedy and profit-chasing tendencies of some food producers and retailers.
The ANC 2009 election manifesto expressly states that -
The ANC is committed to creating an environment that ensures that there is adequate food available to all, that we grow our own food and protect the poor communities from the rising prices of food and eradicate hunger.
Yingakho-ke Ngqongqoshe ngigcizelela ukuthi sinenkinga, yalezi zinselele engizibalile. Ngakho-ke, ngicela sizibheke, lapho nabantu bakithi sebetshala ama-organic food, ngoba wonke umuntu efuna inzuzo, kodwa bayakhohlwa ukuthi akutshalwe ukudla, ngoba emva kwesikhathi sizobe sibhekene nezinkinga ezinkulu. Ngqongqoshe, i-ANC isisesekela ngokuphelele isabelomali sakho. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.) [That is why then, hon Minister, I am saying that we have major problems regarding the challenges I have just indicated. I want us therefore to look into them - even our black farmers are planting organic food just because everybody wants profit. They forget that they should plant real food because we will be facing major problems in the near future. Hon Minister, the ANC completely supports your budget. [Applause.]]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, I would like to thank all the members who participated in the debate, specially the chairperson of the select committee and the MEC of the Free State, who have greatly enriched my understanding of the sector. I understand that this is not my speciality and by listening to you today, I became a lot wiser and better informed.
I am particularly impressed by the manner in which you have spoken on behalf of your constituencies. Today, I want to tell you that for us agriculture is about improving productivity and making sure that there is economic development and growth in our agricultural sector, that we create decent employment, and that there is a skilled and capable workforce.
We are emphasising that there is an efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network. This includes on-farm and off-farm settlements, fencing, roads, dams and irrigation facilities. I am just giving a brief summary because I cannot respond to all questions raised in five minutes. I have taken down copious notes. I am going to request copies of all the speeches that have been made, so that I can study and read them very carefully.
One of our important outcomes is that we will have vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities, with food security for all. Our environmental and natural assets will be well protected and continually enhanced. One of our main and key objectives is to have a better Africa and a better world as a result of our contributions to global relations.
Our first step would be to have high-level performance agreements, which we have already signed with the President. We will then convene meetings with our MECs, our stakeholders, in order to sign delivery agreements. We will also sign delivery agreements with the select committee of this House.
In these delivery agreements, we will decide who does what, by when, and with which resources. We will separate our delivery agreements into implementation forums. In these implementation forums we will look at our different committees and clusters, so that they will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating certain sections of our agricultural performance.
The lead agencies, as they exist in our provinces, will be supporting agencies. They will also map out a growth plan which we will use to produce a matrix that will give us specific instruments for each province. Those instruments will depend on what we want to achieve, what it is that we haven't achieved and how well we use our compliance, not to just talk, but to develop substance on certain issues, particularly in agriculture.
We are going to look at projects in terms of commodity-based development, where we encourage commodity-based co-operatives, as the Free State MEC has already indicated. Those co-operatives will pool their resources, and we will bring them together in a radius. That radius will then be responsible for delivering to a particular market.
We have realised that our smallholder farmers do not have the economies of scale to produce productively or commercially. So we are now taking a sectoral approach to farmers, where we promote farming in clusters. We can then use our smallholders' capacity to farm in clusters as a way of developing them into commercial farmers.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the agricultural sector and to the state of agriculture. We are asking Parliament to monitor our progress and to withhold money where we are not spending it efficiently. The national Parliament has the right to withhold money where it sees that it is not being used effectively and efficiently. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.