Chairperson, yes, there was a transfer, there were investments. I think that one of the issues we want to address in refining the NIPP was the obligations that were required in virtually every sector. So, if you were an arms manufacturer, your obligations could be in virtually any other industry, and that is what happened. And I think what we want to do is to make the obligations much closer to the area of expertise of the company which is incurring the obligations and in that way, by also refining, as I said, to bring the job targets to the fore. We want to make this NIPP part of our overall attempts to get the industrial development of procurement programme. Thank you.
Particulars regarding distribution of agricultural machinery, equipment and other items to persons or groups engaged in agricultural activities 248. Mrs R E Nyalungu (ANC) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
Whether her department distributed any (a) tractors, (b) agricultural machinery and equipment, (c) seeds, (d) fertiliser and (e) diesel to (i) persons or (ii) groups engaged in agricultural activities; if not, why not, in each case; if so, in each case, what (aa) were the criteria used to determine the beneficiary and (bb) are the further relevant details? NO3842E
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Chairperson, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries distributed tractors and agricultural machinery and equipment to the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to increase the capacity of the various projects and programmes implemented in these provinces to address the mechanisation needs of household food security and household food produces for subsistence farming.
The department has not distributed seeds, fertilisers and diesel because this is covered and budgeted for through the various support programmes implemented by provinces. So, items like seeds, fertilisers and diesel have been provided for by the provincial departments of agriculture.
The equipment will be deployed to target areas identified by the President where medium to high-potential agricultural land is available and where available land allocated to households is not cultivated. The tractors and implements will be available to groups on common land and to individuals with small land areas.
Operation and maintenance costs will be budgeted for through provincial budgets, as well as through the national budget. The equipment targets those that are not able to afford mechanisation equipment and do not have the ability to pay for contractors to cultivate their land. Due to the small size of plots, the mechanisation cost is considerably higher than at commercial farms. The other seven provinces will receive equipment during the following financial year.
The criteria used to allocate equipment are determined by various programmes in each province. The aim of all these programmes is to develop rural communities and to improve household food security locally. I thank you.