Hon. Premier Me. Sisi Ntombela; Members of the Executive Council;
Members of the Free State Legislature; executive mayors, mayors, and councillors; speakers of the respective municipalities,
Representatives of the house of traditional leaders,
Director-General of the province, heads of respective departments, chief executive officers and leaders of our public and private institutions;
Municipal managers;
Farmers and farm worker organisations farm dwellers
Members of the media distinguished guests
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen.
Dumelang! Molweni!
Honourable Speaker, It is a great honour and a sense of appreciation and pleasure to stand before you today to deliver the budget vote 11 for the financial year 2022/2023 for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that I have been given the responsibility to lead.
Honourable Speaker, it was on the 21st of March when John Beaver (JB) Marks, teacher, trade unionist, political activities and a staunch member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC) was born in 1903. It was this month on the 21st of March when we celebrated Human Rights Day since 1995. Human Rights Day shares the day with the anniversary of the infamous Sharpeville Massacre, which happened when police led bloodbath took place when ordinary South African were protesting the Pass Laws, this was a clear gross violation of human life.
It was in the late March 2020, when our farmer’s concerns grew as COVID-19‘s impact on agriculture strengthen, leading to slack economy, job losses, rising unemployment and deepening poverty. Our economy is yet to recover.
Disruptions in the global supply chain and logistics has increase input prices and will have an impact on food inflations. According to Statistics South Africa census 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1,2% in the fourth quarter (October – December), taking the annual growth rate for 2021 to 4,9% and personal services, trade, manufacturing and agriculture were recorded as the most significant positive contributors to growth in the fourth quarter.
We appreciate the assurance by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza on the 19 March 2022 after meeting stakeholders in the food and agricultural industry and farmer’s associations that “South Africans don’t need to panic about any impending food shortages in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”. As a country we export and import agricultural produce from both countries.
Honourable Speaker, the involvement of household in agricultural activities for subsistence farming can play an important role in reducing the vulnerability to hunger of rural and urban food-insecure households. According to Stats-SA 2019, 15.3% households in South Africa, about 2.5 million were involved in agricultural activities, while in our province 15.7% households are involved in agricultural activities.
Agriculture provides 10.5% of the formal jobs in the province, which is the third most after Services and Trade. In the past quarter, Stats-SA indicated that agriculture and mining in the Free State lost the most jobs of all the provinces. Seasonal labour was part of the data.
According to Stats-SA (Quarter 2: 2021) Labour Force Survey, the Free State province, unemployment rate has increased from 27% in April to June 2020, to 42% from April to June 2021 and almost doubled from 159 000 to 343 000. High unemployment rate, means less money circulating and distributed across the population, thus reducing the consumption expenditure, and this impact negatively on the economy and the agricultural sector cannot be exempted.
The persisting below average production condition has put farmers in a financial drought as well. Increasing fuel and diesel prices negatively impact farmers’ production costs and consumer welfare is heavily compromised since they have to pay directly or indirectly due to ever increasing fuel prices.
Climate changes such as unpredictable torrential rain has led to loss of livestock, field crops and other valuable farming assets. The province as whole received above average rainfall since the start of South Africa’s 2021/22 summer crop production season in October 2021, which recorded more than 200% of the long-term average rainfall for the calendar year 2021.
Excessive rain created challenges for crop farmers with delayed planting, water logged situations, late replanting and even total crop losses. The natural veld recovered well, even on the areas which were burned. Still, the actual plantings are a relief as many analysts, thought we would see a much smaller area planted. The recent sunny days contributed to some relieve.
Free State is an important primary producer of a number of commodities. In the past planting season, the Free State produced 45% of the total maize crop, 56% of the national sunflower crop, 41% of the soya crop, 26% of the groundnuts, 23% of the sorghums and 44% of the dry beans. In terms of the selected livestock industry the province contributed (4%) Goats, porkers (8%), beef (19%) and mutton (20%).
Honourable Speaker, Agriculture is an ideal vehicle through which the province can deal with challenges of poverty, unemployment and slow economic growth, taking into account the diverse natural resources of the province. For the financial year 2021/22, the Department was allocated a total budget of R783 067 million.
Honourable Speaker, South Africa has the 3rd highest unemployment rate in the World and Free State is the highest in the country in terms of youth unemployment. Under the Extension Recovery Programme of CASP, 13 Agricultural Advisors were employed permanently and 13 will be employed on contract for a 3-year period to gain skills, financial and business knowledge. Through unemployed programme the department has entered into an agreement with Agribusinesses and commercial farmers and has successfully employed 105 Unemployed Graduates and placed them on commercial farms and agri- businesses, currently the number have been reduced to 83 (Xhariep 1, Mangaung Metro 23, Lejweleputswa 8, Thabo Mofutsanyana 34, Fezile Dabi 17), most of the graduates left because they got better job offers.
Opportunities are currently being created for the other graduates to apply for the Graduate Placement Programme.
We are also proud to announce that the Department has welcomed 14 newly qualified Veterinarians as part of Compulsory Community Services (CCS) Programme. These interns were appointed by the National Department to be placed in all Districts across the Free State Province. Through the efforts of Veterinary Services, the Department obtained a partial accreditation of Kroonstad Provincial Veterinary laboratory by SANAS, currently the Department is working towards obtaining full accreditation.
Honourable Speaker, I am glad to announce that of the 176 international students studying internationally 132 have completed their studies between 2018 and 2021. Ten students from Belarus have completed their studies in February 2022 remaining 28 students from People’s Friendship University in Russia will complete their studies in June 2022. Some of the students will be accommodated in departmental programmes where opportunities may exist, whilst they will also be accorded with opportunities within the broader agricultural sector. Twenty-two (22) international graduates were employed both in private and public sector to utilize their skills and knowledge. In addition, the Department is planning to give 38 unemployed graduates job opportunities in the new financial year (2022/23).
Honourable Speaker, Sustainable Resource Management received R8.366 million in the financial year 2021/22 and have successfully managed to implement 14 LandCare projects and created 312 green jobs.
For the period May to August 2021, about one hundred thousand, five hundred and thirty six (100 536) hectares of grazing land were destroyed by veldfires in the province causing damages to infrastructure and livestock to the estimated value of R300 million. The Department managed to avail R1.127million to procure and distribute 4 480 bags of 10% protein-based fodder to 23 affected commercial farmers around Xhariep and Mangaung. Focus was mainly on farmers who lost 60% and more of their natural grazing on their farms due to the disastrous runaway veld fires.
Honourable Speaker, we have made a commitment in last (2021/22) financial year that Integrated Vrede Dairy Project will be handed over to the verified legal rightful owners before the end of January 2022. As alluded by the Honourable Premier Sisi Ntombela in the State of the Province Address 2022/23, this project was handed over to the 65 beneficiaries on the 14th of January 2022 and 51% is now owned by the Vrede Integrated Farming Trust. 583 dairy animals and 9 horses have been allocated to the beneficiaries. The remaining 49% will be advertised to attract investors. The Department is committed to support these beneficiaries to realise their goals.
Honourable Speaker, allow me to inform all women present here today that, as the Free State Provincial Government we pride ourselves with the calibre of women in agriculture that we have in our Province who are continuously working hard to ensure that we don’t perish as a result of hunger and immensely contributing to the growth of this Country’s economy. I urge every woman in the sector to spread the word of working hard to invest in Agriculture for our sector to remain relevant.
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has included among its top priorities programmes which will have a direct contribution to the achievement of the strategic goal of eliminating skewed-participation in the sector. The role of women in the agricultural sectors is well known and documented, as well as their pivotal role in ensuring food security and their contribution to the fight against poverty through production and other rural activities enabling access to food.
Female Entrepreneur Awards is one of the programmes that the department proud itself with to recognizes the role of women in entrepreneurship within the sector. The programme will remain as one of the department’s premier strategies of contributing to the elimination of skewed participation, sector transformation and gender mainstreaming. For the year 2021 a total number of 52 female farmers participated in the provincial recognition of women in farming awards. A total of 16 women under 6 categories were supported with prize monies worth R 669 502, and the provincial winners are:
CATEGORIES - WINNERS - DISTRICTS - PRIZES
Best Female Worker - Cynthia Mokhamudi - Fezile Dabi - R50 000
Best Female Subsistence Producer - Basadi Phahamang - Fezile Dabi - R75 000
Top Female Entrepreneur Smallholder Producer - Dee y Dairy - Lejweleputswa - R125 000
Top Female Entrepreneur Commercial Producer - Nono Mohapi - Thabo Mofutsanyana - R125 000
Please continue doing the good work with your commitment and always remember that we appreciate you as we understand that most of you are mothers, wives, sisters caring for their families but you are prepared to sacrifice your time to carry out the mandate of dealing with poverty in South Africa.
Honourable Speaker, the Department has been responsive in the prevention of the spread of an outbreak pathogenic Avian Influenza. We are still busy with the control of active cases of African Swine Fever in various areas. We will continue to regulate slaughter of animals in various abattoirs. We are continuing to facilitate live cattle exports to SADC countries in support of our farmers. Primary Animal Health Care facilities continues to grow their clients, during this past year they serviced more than 12 000 clients. Rabies vaccinations were increased in an attempt to meet the World Health Organization’s 2030 strategy of zero incidences of dog mediated rabies in humans. A total of 35 677 vaccinations were performed during 2021, which is a huge improvement from the previous years’ 12 521.
The province also recorded an exponential increase in facilitation of export of animals and/or animal products, which contributed positively towards economic growth for the agricultural sector. More than 3 500 consignments were facilitated during 2021. This Programme continued to promote a healthy animal population in the province through maintenance of disease surveillance, disease prevention and disease control interventions.
Honourable Speaker, through Agricultural Economics, the Department managed to support 4 projects to the value of R2.57million; namely Valhope in Faurismith with cooler truck and meat processing equipments, South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA- GAP) compliant vegetable processing facility at Osprong (Heilbron) and Demanche Project was assisted with honey processing facility and associated equipment. Vergezoght oils was supported with the upgrading of the oil processing plant to ensure food safety compliance of the product. This project is a potential market for the grain producers from the province.
This programme also supported 325 clients with BP, economic advice and record keeping as well as 39 agri-businesses with agro-processing initiatives. They continued to capacitate farmers and a joint marketing training session together with DALRRD was held for 35 livestock farmers in Sasolburg and 15 agri-business was assisted with access to various markets.
Honourable Speaker, in 2021, the Glen College of Agriculture successfully recorded an intake of 200 first year students which is a 180% increase from the previous year. More than 300 students were exempted from paying tuition fees for the year 2021. I am also pleased to announce that we held a very successful graduation ceremony for 79 students at the Glen College of Agriculture on the 18th of March 2022. As the Department, we appreciate the good work by our graduates who took the centre stage to proof their capability in farming and generally in academics. These young adults are our hope for a transformed and competitive farming and agri-business sector of the South African economy. “Re motlotlo ka lona bana ba rona”
Honourable Speaker, Africa Union (AU), views agriculture as the sector offering Africa the greatest potential for poverty alleviation. AU has set up New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and since 2003 agriculture has been on the NEPAD agenda as a pivotal sector for resolving social ills in the continent. Africa’s main agricultural policy, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), seeks to drive our continental agricultural revolution, by investing in agriculture, entrepreneurship, agri- businesses and agri-food value chains, improving national and regional agricultural markets, fostering Africa’s collective food security and improving the management of natural resources.
Honourable Speaker, we appreciate the Social Compact that President Ramaphosa spoke about during SONA, 2022 that is to say “the heart of our economic recovery efforts, the development of Master plans across various sectors of our economy brings together industry-specific relevant stakeholders to agree on what is needed to grow our economy inclusively and prioritize employment”. These words were reiterated by DALRRD Minister Thokozile Didiza during debates on the State of the Nation Address, February 2022, said “The agriculture and agro-processing Master plan, which we will conclude by March 2022, working with business and organized agriculture, has identified specific issues that we need to address if this sector grows inclusively and boosts employment opportunities in rural South Africa”.
Honourable Speaker, for the financial year 2022/23, the Department is allocated an amount of R830.7 million and we are planning to implement the following Projects and Programmes in line with the New Agricultural Integrated Growth and Development Policy (IGDP) as well as the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, New Growth Path (NGP), Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), Revitalization of Agriculture and Agro-Processing Value-Chains (RAAVC) anchored by the newly envisioned National Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plans (AAMP) serve as a response, for sector’s growth and development through commodities with high growth potential, food security and contribution to the GDP.
These Projects and Programmes will be implemented within the District Development Model. For the financial year 2022/23, we have received R190.4 million under Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and we are planning to implement 18 projects that will benefit 2 412 beneficiaries to the total allocation of R 62.7 million and 11 programmes to the value of R 127.6 million.
In Mangaung Metro, we will implement 4 projects to the value of R30.2 million.
In Thabo Mofutsanyana District, we will implement 1 project to the value of R 8.5 million. In Lejweleputswa District, we will implement 2 projects to the value of R7.6 million.
In Xhariep District, we will implement 1 project to the value of R950 000.00.
The Department will continue with Commonage Development Programme and we will support 10 commonages (two per District Municipality and in the Mangaung Metro) in the financial year (2022/23) to the value of R15.5 million.
Honourable Speaker, as announced in the State of the Province Address, 2022, by Premier Ntombela, we will also improve on-farm infrastructure that includes irrigation schemes, mechanization, farm buildings and agro-processing. We also implement the following commodities: Vegetables, Piggery, Pastures/fodder, Livestock initiatives and Grain/Crop projects. We also support six (6) identified sites (Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon, Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Wesselsbron and Glen) for Cannabis research with infrastructure development.
Honourable Speaker, we will implement the following Programmes under CASP allocation:
1) Training and Mentorship for farmers (R15 million). Skills Development and mentorship to our farmers remains key and fundamental and with this programme we are planning that our farmers receive skills and training as well as financial and business management. We will also provide mentorship under this programme.
2) Unemployed graduate placement (R10.4 million): Youth unemployment in the province remains a challenge. Under this programme we are planning to place 120 agricultural unemployed graduates to gain entrepreneurial skills development, financial and business management. We will continue to work closely with organized agriculture and commercial businesses in ensuring the success of this programme.
3) Extension Recovery Plan (ERP) (R24.6 million): The National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development committed that a total number of 10 000 Assistant Agricultural Practitioners will be recruited for the Sector. The Free State Department of Agriculture & Rural Development will also get about 502 new recruits from this national initiative. We will ensure that we recruit more extension officers and provide them with training and skills and information technology solutions.
4) Marketing and Infrastructure Development (R8.5 million): This programme we will ensure that our farmers receive workshops and pay for Perisherable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) to audit SA-GAP projects and Hazzard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) compliance to ensure that our farmers are committed to producing or trading in safe food. We will also support individual marketing projects. The programme plans to improve agro-processing drive and appetite in the province.
5) Project planning and implementation (R22.5 million): Under this programme, we will ensure that properly planned projects to be implemented in the following financial years, have water rights, EIAs, farm plans and met all the requirements before implementation.
6) Glen College of Agriculture (R10.5 million): on the 2nd of September 2020, ESIEID Cabinet Committee approved that Colleges of Agriculture should be established as Higher Education Colleges under the Higher Education Act (101 of 1997, as amended) by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, who has the legislative responsibility for the post-school education and training systems. Linked to this approval, the Glen College of Agriculture will, with all other Colleges of Agriculture, be transferred to a national competence, with funding and daily administrative processes to be undertaken by the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Although the initial plan was that the transfer will be effective from 1 April 2021, approval was granted that the actual date of transfer be amended to 1 April 2023 in order to allow the different Work Streams that were established between DALRRD and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to finalize administrative processes linked to the transfer. The Glen College of Agriculture will implement plans for building new lecture halls to increase capacity and accommodate more students on campus. This will assist in gradually bring back all students to the campus and the capacity of the college infrastructure to accommodate all students at the same time to maintain social distancing according to COVID-19 regulations. We will ensure that the College is well capacitated and meet all the infrastructure requirements so as to align them to the prescribed higher education regulations.
7) Research and Development (R8 million): This programme is meant to ensure that the ATDC infrastructure is well renovated and maintained to comply with Research standards and training requirement.
8) Veterinary Services (R9 million): Under this programme, we will ensure animal health support and renovations of our laboratories to ensure compliance to SANAS standards and livestock clinics.
9) Risk Management Solution (R4.5 million): There is increase in demand for livestock products in the developing countries as opposed to developed countries. The demand for livestock products is highly driven by population growth, economic value livestock carries in the communities. The sector however experience challenges such as low productivity and theft. UNISA estimates the value of livestock stolen during 2019/2020 to be around R1 179 458 600. On average there are about 182 cattle, 282 sheep and 138 goats being stolen every day in South Africa. There are more than 131 000 cases of stolen livestock each year. The Free State alone has about 4 000 stock theft cases reported yearly. The livestock theft causes serious financial losses to the farmers and increase the risk of farming with livestock. This programme is aimed at curbing livestock theft strategy such as tracking devices, security surveillance, security infrastructure etc. we will also include agricultural drones to assist our crop farmers with solutions such as fertilization, pesticides, herbicides, weedicides controls. As correctly pointed out by MEC Gadija in her Budget Speech 2022/23, we are making agriculture fashionable and keep pace with the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Honourable Speaker, the anti-theft programme is a collaborative effort with the Department of Police, Roads & Transport as well as all relevant stakeholders. We will continue to work closely with other relevant stakeholders, organised agriculture and commodity groups within the agricultural sector.
10) Mechanization Support (R11 million from CASP and R13.2 million from Ilima/Letsema = R24.2 million): The Department has taken a deliberate and strategic position to provide mechanization support to dedicated and tested crop producers as an important production inputs support towards commercialization. This initiative will assist in curbing shortage of mechanizations when required more especially during soil preparation, planting and harvesting. The Department will assist our farmers to obtain required mechanization.
11) Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (R3.6 million): Livestock improvement is key to our livestock farmers. Under this programme, we will assist our livestock farmers to improve their livestock and compete competitively for markets.
Honourable Speaker, we have received R 73.2 million under ILIMA/LETSEMA and we are planning to implement about 13 projects to the total value of R37.4 million and 5 Programmes to the value of R35.7 million.
Under ILIMA/LETSEMA we will implement projects as follows:
- In Mangaung Metro, we will implement 2 projects to the value of R9.6 million.
- In Thabo Mofutsanyana District, we will implement 5 projects to the value of R11.9 million.
- In Fezile Dabi District, we will implement 4 projects to the value of R9.8 million.
- In Lejweleputswa District, we will implement 2 projects to the value of R6.2 million.
We are grateful for the announcement of the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP) by the President to introduce the Emergency Relief Income as well as the Presidential Economic Stimulus Package (PESI) that brought some form of relief to those in dire need. We welcome the announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, Thoko Dididza on the 30 November 2021, to extend the second phase of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI, 2) for subsistence producers.
Under ILIMA/LETSEMA we will implement the follows programmes:
- Female Entrepreneur Awards (FEA) (R4.5 million) to mainstream women, young women and women living with disabilities in the sector through food security, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation.
- Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (R4.7 million) support the establishment of youth owned and/or managed enterprises, youth entrepreneurs and other activities that will encourage the active participation of youth in the agricultural sector to contribute to food security and create employment opportunities in the sector.
- Food Security/Re kgaba Ka Diratswana (R11.8 million) to increase household involvement in agricultural activities in the backyard
- Southern African Vulnerability Assessment Committee (SAVAC) (R1.5 million) to conduct a survey on food and nutrition household at municipality level, to develop a tool of measurement and give disaggregated food insecurity statistics. This will assist municipalities through the District Development Model to understand their state of hunger and vulnerability and enable better planning and allocation of resources.
Honourable Speaker, we have received R 8.5 million under LANDCARE and R2 million under Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) for the financial year 2022/23 and we are planning to implement 13 about to the total value of R37.4 million and 5 Programmes to the value of R35.7 million.
For the current financial year, the Department will implement sustainable resource management projects to assist previously disadvantaged land users and implement our Junior LandCare project to create awareness amongst the youth managing natural resources. 13 LandCare projects and one Junior LandCare project to the value of R8.5 million will be implemented.
The 3 EPWP projects to the value of R2 million will be used to supplement LandCare projects. We will contribute to the Expanded Public Works Programme by using beneficiaries or local people to eradicate invader plants. The projects will focus on natural resource management; to eradicate about 4 660 hectares of invader plants, construct waterways on eroded lands, upgrade water reticulation systems on commonage land and conduct awareness sessions on natural resource management in the whole Province and will create 354 temporary jobs that will better these people’s daily lives. The continuous promotion and support of community base LandCare is very important for sustainable natural resource management.
The Department will also implement a conservation agriculture (CA) project where 187 hectares of soil quality will be improved in the Senekal area.
Honourable Speaker, we have experienced rainfall that flooded farms around Bultfontein, Hoopstad, Parys, Vredefort, Viljoenskroon, Heilbron, Bothaville, Wesselsbron, Kroonstad, Steynsrus, Bethulie, Reitz, Lindley, Bethlehem, Fouriesburg, Slabberts, some areas in QwaQwa, Paul Roux, Clarens, Ficksburg, Marquard, Senekal, Kestell and Harrismith around the 31st of December 2020 and 13th of January 2021. The Department will repair 17 earthen dams, erect 48 kilometres of fencing and develop 2 farm access road bridges that were damaged in these floods to a budget amount of about R3.4 million.
The Department will implement projects to the value of R36.3 million for the upgrading of Departmental Infrastructure especially the Glen Agricultural Institute and R10 million for Maintenance of Departmental Infrastructure. We will also do upgrading projects that include the Masselspoort Potable Water Pipeline, Glen Auditorium Upgrade, Veterinary Laboratory Upgrades, Welkom District Office Upgrade and various Glen Farm Upgrades.
Honourable Speaker, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial Department of Rural Development and Land Reform now falls under one Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Development and under Land Distribution: for the financial year 2022/23 the department is planning to acquire 3 157 hectares to the estimated value of R69 860 000.00 through Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, of which 50% of this land will be distributed to previously disadvantaged groups (youth, women and people with disabilities).
Under Farmer Production Support Units (FPSU) – The department has constructed 5 Farmer Production Support Units around the province (Sediba FPSU in Thaba Nchu, Odendaalsrus FPSU in Odendaalsrus, Kroonstad FPSU in Kroonstad, Makholokoeng FPSU in Qwaqwa and Zastron FPSU in Zastron). In addition the department has commenced with construction of the 6th FPSU in Ficksburg, and 15 enterprises will be supported in 2022/23 to the value of R 7 914 735.00 with different commodities that will act as feeder projects towards making FPSUs functional.
Land Development Support: Through Land Development Support the department will support 24 farming enterprises to the tune of R123 million. Of these 24, eleven (11) will be livestock farmers, twelve (12) farmers are farming with grains and one (1) poultry farmer.
Honourable speaker, I therefore present before the house the budget vote 11 of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the financial year 2022/2023, which seeks to achieve strategic goals of the department.
In conclusion, as I celebrate my birthday today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my organisation, the African National Congress and its alliance partners, the Premier of the Free State Provincial Government, Hon. Sefora Ntombela, Members of the Executive Council and Members of the Provincial Legislature for their leadership and guidance during these difficult periods to be of service to the people.
Let me also acknowledge the unwavering support and commitment by the Management of the Department led by the Head of Department, Dr T.J Masiteng for always putting an extraordinary effort and going beyond the call of duty to be at the disposal of improving the lives of the masses.
Let me also express my appreciation to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Mr Jabulane Radebe, for his support.
To farmers, Agri-business and farmworkers, thank you for being such an inspiration in ensuring that there is employment and food even under difficult conditions.
Honourable Speaker, I thank my wife Nontsikelelo Nxangisa and my family for the unwavering support during difficult times and turbulences. Their love and inspirational support always give me courage never to betray the cause of Freedom, as Maya Angelou indicated that: “We have lived a painful history, we know the shameful past but (let’s) keep on marching forward”.
“Forward Always is our battle-cry”
I THANK YOU.
ANNEXURE “A”
BUDGET ALLOCATION PER PROGRAMME 2022/23
(R'000)
Programmes
ADMINISTRATION - 185 069
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - 64 269
FARMER SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT - 365 152
VETERINARY SERVICES - 72 215
TECHNOLOGY,RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - 87 329
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS - 14 545
STRUCTURED AGRICULTURAL TRAINING - 32 044
RURAL DEVELOPMENT - 10 076
Total for Programmes - 830 699
Budget allocation per economic classification 2022/23
(R'000)
Economic classification
Compensation of employees - 445 331
Goods and Services - 120 923
Transfer payments - 218 379
Payment for Capital assets - 46 066
Total for Economic classification - 830 699
