Chairperson, the DA is disappointed that the agricultural sector was severely neglected and grossly underfunded after being allocated only 0,4% of the total Budget. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' budget is further not used for effective service delivery. It is clear that the current human resources, ICT capacity and budget are not adequate to deliver the required level of management and services.
The DA believes that the following issues are critical for food security. Taking into account the importance of research for the sector, it is clear that the Agricultural Research Council is grossly underfunded and that many posts are currently vacant. About R300 million is needed annually to address this constraint.
Onderstepoort Biological Products renders a world-class service to the livestock industry, but has to survive without any budgetary support from government.
The Perishable Products Export Control Board, PPECB, is in charge of monitoring our borders for the import and export of unwanted products, but is not supported financially by government to effectively execute this important function.
Proper management of natural disasters is of critical importance for long- term sustainability of the sector. The allocated budget for this purpose is also insufficient.
Rural safety and stock theft is completely out of control. Farmers lost R366 million to stock theft in the 2008-09 financial year. This demonstrates the size of the problem.
Daar is 'n behoefte aan 'n landbouhandelsbeleid wat beter na Suid-Afrika se belange sal omsien. Die aangekondigde invoertarief op koring is onvoldoende en gaan tot 'n verdere afname in koringproduksie, en gevolglik 'n toename in invoere met gepaardgaande werkverlies en verdere terugslae vir landelike ontwikkeling, bydra.
Die beweerde wanbestuur binne Mariene en Kusbestuur word klaarblyklik onder die mat gevee. Die vissery departement sal dringend alle aspekte van die bedryf moet aanspreek. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[There is a need for an agricultural trade policy that will take better care of South Africa's interests. The announced import tariff on grain is insufficient and will contribute to a further drop in grain production, and subsequently to higher imports accompanied by job losses and further setbacks to rural development.
The alleged mismanagement within Marine and Coastal Management is evidently being swept under the carpet. The fisheries section of the department must urgently address all aspects of the industry.]
An example of wasteful expenditure is the R600 million which was spent on patrol vessels and the disastrous deployment which followed it.
The DA will not support this Vote.