NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1622
QUESTION 1622 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, MR. BM BHANGA (COPE)
ASKED TO THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
WHAT HAS SHE FOUND TO BE THE IMPACT ON (A) FOOD SECURITY AND (B) HUNGER OF
VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE SEVEN PROVINCES AND PARTICULARLY THE MOUNT FRERE
DISTRICT WHERE TRACTORS WERE NOT DISTRIBUTED?
REPLY:
IN ORDER TO GIVE A PERSPECTIVE OF THE INTERVENTIONS BY GOVERNMENT TO
ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN THE COUNTRY A MAP IS ATTACHED AS A REFERENCE. THE MAP
INDICATES INTERVENTIONS THROUGH WAR ON POVERTY (WOP BY THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENCY), COMPREHENSIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CRDP BY DEPARTMENT
OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM, DRDLR), HOUSEHOLD FOOD AND NUTRITION
SECURITY PROGRAMME (HFNSP BY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, DSD) AND
SMALL HOLDER FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (SHFDP BY DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES, DAFF). THE INTEGRATED APPROACH HAS
BEEN ADOPTED IN ORDER TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITABLE
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. DAFF IS LEADING THE PROCESS WITH REGARD TO
PLANNING, COORDINATION AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
PROVISION OF SUPPORT SERVICES THAT REQUIRE NATIONAL COMPETENCE. THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROGRAMMES IS DONE THROUGH THE INTEGRATED FOOD
SECURITY STRATEGY ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY CABINET IN 1997. ALL THESE
PROGRAMMES CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF NATIONAL OUTCOME 7 WHICH
READS AS FOLLOWS: VIBRANT, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND
FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION, IT WOULD BE PROPER TO INDICATE THAT DAFF
UNDERTOOK AN ASSESSMENT WITH REGARD TO STATUS OF MACHINERY AND FOUND THAT
LACK OF ACCESS TO MACHINERY AND FARMING EQUIPMENT WAS ONE OF THE
CONSTRAINTS FACING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SMALL HOLDER FARMERS. DAFF
INTERVENTION IN THIS REGARD IS TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO MECHANISATION INPUTS
AND SERVICES. THE SUPPLY OF TRACTORS IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS
UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO POORLY RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING SMALL HOLDER FARMERS AND IS FUNDED THROUGH A NATIONAL
PROGRAMME. ALL PROVINCES HAVE EACH BEEN GIVEN A BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE
PURCHASE OF TRACTORS. THE MOUNT FRERE AREA UNDER MZIMVUBU IS PART OF THE
AREA PRIORITISED FOR A FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME BY THE EASTERN CAPE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE INTENDED OUTPUT IS INCREASED ACCESS TO THE MECHANISATION PROGRAMME AND
THE TARGETED IMPACT IS IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN FOOD PRODUCTION IN VARIOUS
PROJECTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTORS IS DONE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVINCIAL SCHEDULE. THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT IS AWARE
THAT INITIAL PROCESS FOR TRACTOR DISTRIBUTION HAS NOT TAKEN OFF SMOOTHLY.
THAT IS BEING ATTENDED TO THROUGH A NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY FORUM WHICH
MEETS MONTHLY AND WHICH INCLUDES ALL KEY DEPARTMENTS (HEALTH, BASIC AND
HIGHER EDUCATION, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES, DAFFâS SOEâS AND
PROVINCES. THE PROGRAMME IS STILL AT ITS INFANCY STAGE. HOWEVER, IT WOULD
SUFFICE TO INDICATE THAT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES HAVE INCREASED IN AREAS
LIKE OR TAMBO AND ALFRED NZO MUNICIPALITIES SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF
TRACTORS. THE DATA FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES WOULD BE REPORTED THROUGH
PERFORMANCE REPORTING THAT TAKES PLACE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
IN VIEW OF THE CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO PROCUREMENT, A DECISION HAS BEEN
MADE THAT PROVINCES WILL PROCURE TRACTORS THROUGH THEIR OWN SYSTEMS IN
ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE PROVINCIAL SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT
INTERVENTION HAS BEEN A REQUEST SENT TO STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA TO INCLUDE
QUESTIONS ON FOOD ACCESS ON ITS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY PUBLISHED
ANNUALLY.