Good morning, ladies and gentlemen
It is my pleasure to have this opportunity to publicly discuss the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s first quarter service delivery achievements.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's programme remains guided by the seven Gauteng Provincial Government strategic priorities as stipulated by the premier during her State of the Province Address in June, 2009 and by the following two of the 12 national outcomes and outputs:
Seventh outcome: Creating vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security for all
- Outputs:
- sustainable land reform
- rural development and sustainable livelihoods
- food Security for all
- job creation linked to skills training and capacity building
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10th outcome: Protecting and enhancing our environmental assets and natural resources.
- Outputs:
- reduced climate change and improved air quality
- sustainable use of Natural resources and Environment
- protected biodiversity.
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These outcomes based strategic plans mean that all energies are being channelled towards what our people need and not what the department thinks they need. Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is the leading department tasked with the implementation and achievement of these National Outcomes, outputs and related targets in the Gauteng province:
The following therefore is a summary of service delivery progress made during first quarter ( April, May, June 2010) against the 2010/11 strategic plans.
Sustainable land reform
While land reform is a national competency, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has made a commitment to support this programme by facilitating the Farmer Post Settlement Support project.
The project will enable land reform recipients to use their land productively and viably and to access finance.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will also influence National government to purchase land for food production form Gauteng agricultural hubs and to address the plight of farm workers.
The total farm land in Gauteng at the inception of democracy in 1994 was 774 285 hectares. The total number of hectares delivered to claimants to date is 35 599 i.e. a total of 4.6 percent of farm land in Gauteng.
With the land restitution programme, out of a total of 11 975 land claims lodged in Gauteng on or before 31st December 1998, more that 11 973 (99.8 percent) of the claims have been settled by 30 June 2010.
The only outstanding claims are those of Krokodilspruit which is with the courts to resolve disputes as well as the Suikerbosrand nature reserve which will soon be transferred to the claimants. The national department of land reform is currently reviewing 252 labour tenancy cases.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has during this quarter provided extension and advisory services to 36 land reform beneficiaries, 54 farms were visited, and common study group sessions were conducted with 13 land reform beneficiaries.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also appraised and compiled 14 business plans to access finance for small scale farmers and increased support to sustainable agricultural activities in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
The department convened a successful summit under the theme: "Empowerment of vulnerable workers in farms, forestry and fisheries",to address the plight of farm workers and farm dwellers in partnership with the Farm Workers' Union, farmer unions and the Department of Labour. The department has since developed a plan of action to implement the resolution of this summit.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in partnership with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has secured 14 farms that are currently being registered in the names of the intended recipients.
The department is continuing to support agricultural economics for business development, access to finance and economic viability studies to Land and Agrarian Reform beneficiaries.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is also trying to secure the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform to engage with the farmers and farm workers on the proposed National Green paper on Land Reform.
Rural development and sustainable livelihoods
The department committed to implementing programmes that will promote equitable rural infrastructure development and services across the province to overcome the urban–rural divide.
This is aimed at ensuring that our people in rural and peri-rural areas have access to decent services, infrastructure and economic opportunities for sustainable rural livelihoods. Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development specifically committed to deliver agro-processing structures to cooperatives who have made requests and to launch two rural development nodes.
During the first quarter, the Executive Council approved the Gauteng comprehensive rural development (CRDP) strategy which is now at various stages of implementation. Working together with municipalities, ward councillors, communities and the National Department of Land Reform, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has identified four rural nodes for rural development.
These nodes are Devon in Lesedi, Hekpoort in Mogale City, Sikhulumi in Kungwini and Bantu Bonke in Midvaal, This partnership has now produced Status Quo reports for all four development nodes with proposed programmes. GDARD is now waiting for funding to kick-start the CRDP in Gauteng in partnership with all members of the sector.
However, to promote infrastructure development, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has during this quarter, to promote infrastructure development installed irrigation schemes in the 36 of the 42 planned community gardens but no agro-processing units have been delivered to cooperatives to promote rural socio-economic opportunities yet, due to delays in procurement but this is being addressed.
Food security for all
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development committed to creating and supporting food gardens to promote nutritious food security that prolongs life and eradicates hunger and poverty, and to lessen dependency on buying and importing fresh produce.
The department is also committed to supporting and expand agricultural cooperatives targeting women, youth and people with disabilities and to support commercial or agricultural businesses with technology and machinery, to prevent public animal diseases and to revive the maize triangle.
During this quarter, the Executive Council approved the revised Gauteng Agricultural Development Strategy and the maize triangle strategy including upgrading of roads by the relevant departments. The maize triangle strategy seeks to revive maize farming production in the Sedibeng district, Lesedi local municipality and Metsweding district.
The council also approved the cooperatives strategy and agricultural cooperative plan 2010 to 2014 that seeks to facilitate the growth of cooperatives by supporting business development, marketing and capacity building.
The proposal to revive the agricultural Expositions in Gauteng was also approved. The department is currently implementing these approved strategies.
The programme to launch the Gauteng Agricultural College in the West Rand has been noted by the Executive Council sub-committee and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is planning its launch during the next quarter.
To implement the integrated food security strategy, the following programmes were carried out to eliminate hunger, guarantee food security support, and access to markets and finance including from the Land Bank.
- One thousand and seventy seven homestead food gardens were implemented and 14 school food gardens were implemented in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. 211 food gardens are being maintained in all household food security regions.
- The department's commitment to agricultural cooperatives resulted in 48 agricultural cooperatives being registered and trained on the Cooperatives Act. Five small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME) enterprises were supported to access markets through major agribusinesses and government institutions.
- A total of 11 344 rabies vaccinations were done in the province, including those for the rabies outbreak that occurred in Witpoortjie in the west of Johannesburg during the world cup. The department is concerned about the source of the outbreak and the fact that pet owners do not seem to be concerned about vaccinating their pets against rabies. During the same period, a total of 3941 livestock vaccinations with 1 727 treatments were carried out as part of the Primary Animal Health programme; 3 767 Newcastle disease vaccinations were completed in poultry; 1 720 inspections were completed around the foot and mouth disease lab; and 57 auction inspections were conducted as part of ongoing surveillance in high risk areas.
- The Vets Enforcement unit enforced the Animal Health and Safety Act and the Meat Safety Act in Gauteng, and investigated four cases with three persecutions done at Lanseria International Airport during the 2010 FIFA World Cup operation.
- To respond to mechanisation needs of farmers, the department has also purchased four tractors of the planned 12 and has developed a memorandum of understanding with the municipalities who will manage the distribution and maintenance of these tractors.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently working with the Gauteng Department of Finance and the department of Health and Social Development to link more cooperatives to supply contracts thus empowering them economically through market access.
Establishment of the bio-science park remains a challenge due to lack of funding, but the department continues to speak to potential partners or donors, however small holder farmers are being taught various technological methods to improve quality and quantity of their produce and to add value to their produce.
Job creation linked to skills training and capacity building
The department committed to creating decent jobs in the sector through agriculture and rural development, and to undertake skills training and capacity building interventions in this sector.
During this quarter, over 242 jobs were created through the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) that is facilitated through the Sustainable Resource Management component. In addition, the following programmes were executed:
- 410 learners were trained on Sustainable Resource Management programmes; 430 went through the department's career expo, 280 attended youth camps and 87 graduated in poultry and crop farming at the Fair Deal Agricultural Training Centre. This was done to promote quality education and skills development.
- Skills training was facilitated for 12 farmers on vegetable production, advisory services to enhance on farm production were provided to 36 land reform beneficiaries, to 17 farmers on record keeping, to 16 farmers on hydroponic production. In total 588 farmers were trained during this quarter in various areas.
Reducing climate change and improving air quality
As part of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development commitment and strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and improve air or atmospheric quality, three air quality monitoring stations have been repaired to help monitor air quality in the province. The air quality plan has been finalised and approved by the Executive Council and will be launched during the second quarter of this financial year.
Sustainable use of natural resources and environment
More permits were issued (1 384) than anticipated (1 200) due to an increased number of applications received. This is probably due to the implementation of the National Threatened or Protected Species regulations which identifies more species that require permits. Five kilometres of the Jukskei River was cleaned.
Protecting biodiversity
The department is rehabilitating agricultural hubs and old agricultural land across the province to be effectively used for high and sustainable agricultural production, and it has finalised a policy to protect agricultural land that has high potential in these hubs.
This policy will be presented to the Executive Council for adoption. The department is currently rehabilitating wetlands in Sebokeng, Soshanguve, Esselen Park and the Jukskei River Clean-up through the Extended Public Work Programme.
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Environmental Management inspectorate (Green Scorpions) continued to inspect and investigate environmental crimes. During the first quarter, EMI-Green Scorpions inspected a total of 1 661 non-CITES at OR Tambo International Airport and 932 CITES and threatened or protected species permit inspections or endorsement were completed.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to protect and conserve the six Gauteng provincial government owned nature reserves, and market them to attract more visitors to generate more revenue.
Transformation
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development remained committed to gender mainstreaming and socio-economic empowerment through Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, Youth and Rural Development and people with disabilities.
The department kept the record achieved in March 2010 of 2.2 percent, a representation of people with disabilities; 44 percent female representation at senior management level and a total of 45 percent women overall representation in the department.
In Conclusion, all other transversal branches continue to support Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to fulfil its mandate, to stimulate food security, rural development and to contribute to creation of decent work through inclusive economic growth.
We remain committed to continue to work together with all role players and stakeholders to speed up effective service delivery to improve the quality of the lives of our people in Gauteng, being mindful of the environmental, socio-economic conditions and the availability of resources.
For more information contact:
Makoko Lekola
Cell: 072 274 3692
Tel: 011 355 1326
