Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's second quarter performance media briefing

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 (GDARD's) second quarter service delivery achievements.

GDARD's programme is guided by the following strategic priorities of the province:

1. Creating decent work and building a growing inclusive economy
2. Promoting quality education and skills development
3. Providing better healthcare for all
4. Stimulating rural development and food security
5. Intensifying the fight against crime and corruption
6. Building cohesive and sustainable communities
7. Strengthening the developmental state and good governance.

Of the 12 outcomes identified by the national government, GDARD is a leading department to ensure the implementation and achievement of the following two national outcomes in the Gauteng province:

• Creating vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security for all.
• Protecting and enhancing our environmental assets and natural resources.
• Achievements Sustainable Agrarian Reform with a thriving small and large farming sector.

Sustainable Land Reform

The department committed itself to work with both small and large businesses within the farming sector to address challenges of access to land markets and finance. The following are therefore some of the achievements realised by GDARD during the second quarter of 2010/11:

• The department held its first successful Gauteng Agri Expo during the Tshwane International Show. For the first time agricultural cooperatives and emerging farmers had an opportunity to showcase their produce on an international platform provided by government. The Gauteng Agri Expo aims to promote agricultural products and to expose farmers to better agricultural technology that improves productivity and quality of produce. This includes creating a platform for sharing skills, knowledge and experiences amongst those within the farming communities.

• Development of 15 business plans and feasibility studies for small holder emerging farmers for them to apply for loans and about 23 loans were approved and dispersed to these farmers from the national government through the Development Financial Institutions.
• About 15 small holders farmers were linked to formal markets such as Pick and Pay, Spar and others to ensure sustainability of their Agri-Businesses

• About 263 Farmers were trained on hydroponics production, goats farming and were provided with extension and advisory services for improved productivity
• Extension officers themselves were trained/empowered on the extension suite online Webpage Systems, attended a conference on Farmers Extension Support for them to improve the services they render to farmers
• The extension officers also provided farmers with engineering support and solutions during their official visit to farmers
• About 189 small holder farmers visited the centre of excellence to learn from the thriving large farming sector
• The department finalised the policy on the protection of high potential agricultural land as well as land use plans associated with protecting the agricultural land
• To further support both the small and large farming sector, GDARD continued to provide veterinary services to farmers in the form of 14536 livestock treatment and vaccinations
• 12 475 poultry were vaccinated, 25 283 TB diagnosed as well as six animal disease surveys and 30 primary animal healthcare sessions were conducted. As result of vaccinations, there were no outbreaks of Anthrax, Brucellosis or Newcastle diseases except for the outbreak of rabies which was well controlled
• Veterinary Services issued over 2 112 export certificates for animals and products of animal origin in support of commercial farmers.

Rural development and sustainable livelihoods

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) remains committed to promoting equitable development across the province including our rural peri-urban areas in order to overcome the urban-rural divide and rural migration.

As a sector leader, GDARD has been hard at work, working together with all role-players to plan for rural development and as such, the following progress has been made.

• The Rural Development Chief Director was appointed in August 2010.
• The Gauteng Comprehensive Rural Development Strategy and Programme of action were finally approved by the Executive Council and Implementation starts during the third quarter. GDARD has however, been working in both rural and urban areas of Gauteng with regard to Agrarian, reform and food security programmes.
• Four rural nodes namely, Devon in Lesedi Local municipality, Hekpoort in Mogale City, Sokhulumi in Metsweding District Municipality and Bantu Bonke in Midvaal Local Municipality have been identified for comprehensive rural development. Status quo reports for all these four rural nodes have been finalised indicating the challenges and needs of these communities to be addressed.
• About 1 100 rural youth have been recruited and trained through the National Rural Youth Service Corps Programmes as part of CRDP job-creation. They will be involved in profiling household in the rural development nodes and will earn a living for two years.
• During this quarter, GDARD also offered veterinary services in rural areas that include abattoir hygiene and food safety monitoring.
• As part of Sustainable Resource Management, 12 km of commercial agricultural waterways and contour banks were surveyed in the rural areas.
• In addition GDARD continued with its Rural HIV and AIDS awareness and outreach program with the small and large farming communities including farm workers and dwellers.

Food security for all

The GPG led by GDARD and the Department of Social Development and Health remain committed to creating an environment which ensures that there is adequate food available to all and that no one will go to bed hungry now and in the future. The following is therefore some of the progress made during this quarter:

• Nine new food Community Food Gardens were developed in the prioritised wards(five in Tshwane, two in Randfontein and two in Germiston)
• 1 077 already existing homestead food gardens were maintained to ensure sustained food security. In addition 3 021 vegetable production packs were delivered for the development of new homestead food gardens.
• To inform communities about the importance of food security 8711 information packs were developed and distributed throughout the province.

Job creation linked to skills training and capacity building

The GPG led by the Department of Economic Development supported by GDARD remains committed to ensuring the creation of jobs and skills training from all developmental programs in order to improve the quality of life of our people in rural and urban areas. GDARD's contribution and progress include the following:

• 15 new agricultural cooperatives were registered and trained on farming and cooperative governance, thus contributing to new jobs created.
• The Bi-annual Agric Sector review report was finalised and it reflected that about 10 000 new jobs were created in the agricultural sector over the past two quarters (to be verified with STATS SA).
• Through sustainable resource management Expanded Public Works Programs (EPWP), 347 job opportunities were created for the people who removed invasive alien plants, burned firebreaks, cleaned up the Jukskei River and rehabilitated other wetlands.
• 588 farmers received skills training on economics and marketing skills as well as on the use of new technology to improve their productivity. In addition 225 farmers were trained on record keeping.
• 917 learners were trained on Environmental Awareness and biodiversity management.
• An Agri-Park on flowers was established in Onverwacht and is contributing to jobs creation.

Protect and enhance our environmental assets and natural resources:

Reducing climate change and improving air quality,

• As part of the GDARD commitment and strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change and improve air/atmospheric quality, the Air Quality Plan was launched during the second quarter in partnership with the department's environmental stakeholders, four Air Quality Stations placed with municipalities were repaired. The department in partnership with municipalities and stakeholders are rolling out this air quality plan.
• Already two Vaal Air Quality Priority Areas capacity building workshops have been held.
• 4 Municipal Environmental Management Frameworks have been developed.
• A service provider was appointed to develop the climate change response strategy and another service provider to develop the state of the environment report was appointed. Both strategies will be finalised by 2011.

Sustainable use of natural resources and environment

• 304 EIA applications were finalised during this quarter
• More permits were issued (1 384) than anticipated (1 200) due to an increased number of applications received and implementation of the National Threatened or Protected Species Regulations which identified more species that require permits.
• GDARD facilitated four Environmental Coordination Sessions to ensure uniformity in managing the use of natural resources, drafted the Waste Minimisation Plan to guide municipalities, reviewed 141 land use applications in support of municipalities and collaborate with SANBI to protect the Sharpeville Dam.
• An open day on reviewed EIA regulations was held during this quarter to empower all role-players.

Protecting bio-diversity

• 1 818 trees were distributed and planted as part of the department's commitment to greening Gauteng. This was done mostly during Mandela Day Celebrations and Arbor month program across the province.
• 37 cleanups were held across the province in 20 PTP and 50 Poorest Wards and Rural settings
• Wetlands in Sebokeng, Soshanguve, Esselen Park and the Jukskei River Clean-up through the Extended Public Work Programme (EPWP) were rehabilitated.
• Green Servitude guides were developed in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg (COJ).
• The GDARD Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) continued to inspect and investigate environmental crimes. During quarter two, EMI-Green Scorpions conducted a total of 99 Compliance Monitoring Inspections, attended to 76 Environmental Complaints and 34 notices. The department inspected and endorsed 2 158 cites and non-cites trade, prosecuted 13 Environmental Criminals and investigated and inspected eight cases under NEMA and TOPS
• GDARD continues to protect and conserve the six Gauteng Provincial Government-owned nature reserves, and markets them to attract more visitors to generate more revenue.
• Two LandCare Youth Camps were held and a total of 130 learners attended and participated in environmental awareness programmes, 1 320 biodiversity permits were issued, 13 538 licenses for sustainable use of biodiversity were issued and 78 biodiversity surveys and inspections were conducted
• The Biodiversity Stewardship Programme was organised to protect and conserve ecosystems with support from the National Biodiversity Institute.

Transformation and other support services

GDARD remained committed to gender mainstreaming and socio-economic empowerment through WARD, YARD and people with disabilities. The department kept the record achieved in March 2010 of 2.2% representation of people with disabilities (PWD), 39% female representation at Senior Management level a total of 45% women overall representation and the 89% of the department employees are Black, that including Coloureds and Indians. GDARD continues to employ interns to contribute to employment creation exceeding the GPG target of nine percent. All the other transversal services including communications, legal services and policy research, knowledge and project management, finance and human resources management, continue to support all staff members for them to effectively serve our people.

As of 30 September 2010, GDARD has spent 47% (R209 649m) of the allocated Budget of R444 373 million on the abovementioned service delivery. All challenges experienced by GDARD including escalating community needs, limited budget resources; and limited staff capacity are being managed.

In conclusion, GDARD will continue, as per its mandate, working with all its partners to create vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities contributing towards food security for all. The department remains committed to protected and enhanced environmental assets and natural resources.

We continue to work together with all role-players and stakeholders to speed up effective service delivery to improve the quality of lives of our people in Gauteng, being mindful of the environmental, social and economic conditions and the availability of resources.

Working together we can indeed do more.

I thank you.

Media contact person:
Makoko Lekola
Tel: 011 355 1326
Cell: 072 274 3692

Source: Gauteng Provincial Government