NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 315
QUESTION 315 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, MR R B BHOOLA (MF) ASKED
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
What incentives has she put in place to address the challenges confronted
by dairy farmers?         NW394E
REPLY
The Department has established and maintains a National Dairy Recording and
Improvement Scheme in terms of the Animal Improvement Act, 1998(Act 62 of
1998) that provides for the collection, processing and interpretation of
breeding, production and milk quality data in accordance with international
standards. This information enables milk producers to take strategic
decisions to improve both the livestock and fodder flow programs to produce
milk more efficiently.
This scheme has been extended to the developing sector where the department
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) covers the cost of
participation in the National Scheme as part of the strategic deliverables
to assist new farmers. Participants receive technical advice from the
Agricultural Research Council (ARC) who are the managers of the scheme.
In addition, DAFF has developed a National Smallholder Dairy Development
Strategy to serve as a guideline for local government when considering
dairy as a food security intervention.
This strategy will be reviewed during 2014/15 to ensure relevance