The budget vote 26 of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has received a green light from the Committee.
But the Committee is not backing down on its demands for more accountability and greater achievements. This department’s budget is to the tune of more than R6 billion for the 2013/14 financial year. According to Committee Chairperson Mr Lulu Johnson, the Committee has observed that nearly 60% of the departmental budget is transferred to provinces.
Therefore there is the importance of proper collaboration between the two spheres (national and provincial) of government within the framework of the intergovernmental relations. Of great concern is little accountability and noticeable outcomes in the past from the provinces.
This was mainly because the provincial departments are accountable to the respective provincial departments and the National Council of Provinces, something which always makes it difficult for the national department to account before the portfolio committee.
“I can safely say now that, as the Committee we have resolved to collaborate with the National Council of Provinces in this regard. It cannot be that Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) conditional grants keep on increasing with no results shown on such support.
“As reported in the past financial year, we commend the department for the 99% spend in its budget, and at the same time we call for more than 51% achievement on the target. It is unacceptable. Provinces working with Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries must account for the support on investments towards our small scale fishers, farmers and foresters,” said Mr Johnson.
He added that all support to small scale farmers, fishers and foresters had to be benchmarked from now onwards. Meanwhile, the Committee will tomorrow receive a briefing from the department on the Small-Scale Fisheries Implementation Plan and fishing rights allocation process.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Foster Mohale (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 072 432 3792
Tel: 021 403 2239
E-mail: fohale@parliament.gov.za
