Honourable Chairperson
Honourable Minister
Ladies and gentlemen.
We all know that the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sectors are of utmost importance and the backbone of socio-economic development in South Africa. However, these sectors are facing immense challenges. Climate change, the growth and urbanisation of the population, skills shortages and shifts in the global economy and the markets are amongst these eminent challenges.
Die departement se kern prioriteite is daarom belyn om voedselsekuriteit en veiligheid te verseker te midde van hierdie veranderende omgewing en die toename van die bevolking.
The support of the State Owned Entities (SOEs) in the sector is a partnership that has evolved over decades and in some instances has gone through a century. The diverse South African sector, more than ever, requires a committed partnership between the private and all the public sector organs.
We must strive to keep this vertical and horizontal partnership aligned in order to realise the objective of "vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities, with food security for all."
Century old lessons point to the recognition of the capabilities of food producers to save a nation. It should all begin with research and development.
Daarom mag die rol van die Landbou Navorsingsraad (LNR) nooit onderskat word nie. Voorsitter, die kern mandaat van die LNR is om landbou se bydrae tot beter lewenskwaliteit te bevorder en om effektiewe natuurlike hulpbronbestuur te verseker.
At production level, the ARC will analyse individual eco-climatic zones and advise appropriately on improved practices, crops and nutritional varieties for local production. The ARC will further conduct on-site research to document real farm problems for strategic solutions in future planning. The ARC will accelerate the establishment of sustainable fruit and vegetable enterprises in the four provinces of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The support will focus on semi-commercial farming enterprises and the establishment of village based markets, fruit and vegetable nurseries as well as cooperatives. Through Ncera Farms the Department will develop and improve on the provision of extension, mechanical services, training and agricultural support services as a platform for practical experience to graduates and farmers.
Chairperson, to continue strategically positioning South African agriculture in the dynamic global markets, the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), will roll out its programme of development schemes to support the red meat industry, developing wine producers and crop production. To support the red meat industry, the National Red Meat Development Programme (NRMDP) was initiated to stimulate the participation of emerging and communal farmers in converting raising cattle to participation in formal red meat markets.
Wine production is another area of potential growth, especially in job creation. The flagship project is a vineyard development scheme, in collaboration with the Northern Cape Province, WineTech, Distell and OVK Cellars. The scheme has 64 beneficiaries and an additional two trusts comprising 466 beneficiaries. Over 100 jobs are created by this project. The NAMC continues monitoring food prices to ensure appropriate private and public sector responses when required.
This will also provide an important measure of transparency in the market. Monitoring input costs by the NAMC allows the public and private sectors to fully grasp the impact thereof on the food value chain. Chairperson, in recent times the outbreak of diseases and pests has demanded our scientific community in the Onderstepoort
Biological Products (OBP) to research and produce vaccines that will help build a healthier and more commercially successful livestock population. The quality of OBP vaccines is a critical issue. The quality control system has been accredited and this must ensure that no substandard batch of vaccines leave the plant. Profits are being invested in new product development and replacing critical equipment to maintain manufacturing capacity over the short term.
Chairperson, more than ever we need to protect our borders by safeguarding against the introduction of alien pests and diseases. The department together with the OBP must disseminate timely advisories with crucial information and reports. The Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) has instituted a number of development and training initiatives for this financial year. The focus has been on capacity building for the unemployed youth. The intention is to develop a pool of competent candidates in inspection, cold chain and food safety disciplines.
Through MoUs with training institutions, the PPECB's Training Academy has developed an introductory groundnut-grading course for 100 new groundnut farmers from Mpumalanga. The South African Pesticide Initiative Programme (SA-PIP) was rolled-out to assist South African horticultural export producers to meet export pesticide, quality and phytosanitary standards.
Voorsitter, ons is besig met die hersiening en wysiging van alle toepaslike wetgewing om sodoende by die veranderende omgewing en die volgehoue uitdagings aan te pas. The following Bills will be processed to bring them in line with current realities:
- Plant Breeder's Rights Amendment Bill
- Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions amendment bill
- Liquor Products Amendment Bill
- Fertilizers and Feeds Bill.
Subsequent to a tender process the University of Pretoria has been appointed as the service provider to assist the department with the review of all its legislation. Ek wil alle rolspelers in die sektor, insluitend georganiseerde landbou bedank vir hul volgehoue goedgesindheid en bereidwilligheid om saam te werk.
Ek dank u.
