Chairperson, this is one area among the many that does not need any political gamesmanship at all. Food must be produced and everybody must agree with that fact. The ANC and the committee on agriculture, forestry and fisheries are in synch with the Budget Vote of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
South Africa needs food that is safe and sufficient to feed its own people. This budget enjoins us to do just that and more.
We are mindful of the fact that 0,4% of the total R9 007 billion is not enough to cover all the programmes required to have safe and secure food in our country. As spelt out in the 2003 declaration of the African Union summit at Maputo, all member countries had to increase their agriculture budgets to no less than 10% of their total budgets by 2008. We as the ANC, however, are confident that, with little, we can do more towards the eradication of poverty.
To do so, we are aware that, among other things, our programmes would need to address stock theft, tariff reduction and subsidies. These are the sore points in the field of agriculture. The ANC, regardless of all those inconveniences, supports Budget Vote 25, and its implementation under the able leadership of Comrade Tina Joemat-Pettersson. Amandla! [Power!]