Voorsitter, ek hoop ek kry beseringstyd. Die agb lid het my nou hier in die rede geval. [Gelag.] [Chairperson, I hope I'm granted injury time. The hon member has just interrupted me. [Laughter.]]
The strategic goals that are outlined in the strategic plan regarding one functioning funding facility, a one-step developing fund - elsewhere they talk about the value chain financing model - are all concepts that we have heard of over the past 10 years. I'm hearing of a one-stop model; our people outside are waiting for that one-stop financing model at cheap interest rates. [Applause.] Give it to them; don't just talk about it. [Interjections.]
We have here the Kaonafatso beef cattle scheme. It's an Agricultural Research Council project, but the ARC has yet to present to the portfolio committee all the facts and details about their version of the success of that scheme. I am awaiting that.
Furthermore, there are approximately 50 developing farmers who are now commercial stud cattle breeders. An overwhelming number of them were mentored by commercial farmers, and another 20 are currently under mentorship. Forty-two developing dairy farmers are on the milk recording scheme, mentored and subsidised by commercial milk producers. We must build further on that relationship.
The animal recording and performance-testing schemes and the Intergrated Registration and Genetic Information System, Intergis, through the dedicated, committed and active involvement of industry role-players over decades, worked well. However, the resources-strapped ARC is relocating the Intergis from Bloemfontein, where this worked very well, to Pretoria, which - I humbly submit - is an ill-considered decision, which will lead to disastrous consequences for the livestock industry. I predict that industry role-players will desert the official schemes and operate their own.
Musa ukulungisa into engaphukanga. [Do not fix something that is not broken broken.]
Duncan Serapelwane is one of almost 10 developing registered Bonsmara stud breeders. He farms on an inhospitable, rented government farm in the Vryburg district that has severely limited water resources. Yet, he has made it without government assistance, but with the assistance of commercial Bonsmara stud breeders. He breeds performance-tested bulls and has notched up many awards.
The ARC lacks the capacity to carry out its core function, namely research, which requires serious intervention. Involvement of industry role-players largely contributed to the success of the schemes. In our quest to create more jobs, research must focus on developing technology that promotes small and large family farming businesses. Alternative energy sources for farming must also be researched. [Applause.]
Mmetla kgola o e betla a lepile gaabo. [Leaders do things that benefit their people.]
Unfortunately, my time is up, but I just want to tell members that the institutional memory within the department is, at best, six months old. We have so many actors in the department. Let us get a functional department and let it start running. [Applause.]
Finally, may the blessing hands of our Lord rest on everyone who is helping to grow food and provide food security for our people. Without that, we will not be able to go further. Mother Teresa expressed the idea that all we are trying to do is but a drop in the ocean. But if we hadn't done anything, the ocean would be short of that drop. Thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Thank you, Chairperson. I have to say that I apologise to all the young people who are out of school today, my two sons in particular. What you were subjected to was a session in a mental institution. I have never heard such a cacophony of loud noise. I've learnt that you should avoid loud and aggressive people. They are a vexation to the spirit.
To the Leader of the Opposition, could you please change some of your members so that I can have something to listen to when I come and spend so much time at the budget speech? [Interjections.]