Service delivery forum speech delivered by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Honourable Senzeni Zokwana (MP)
Programme Director
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Sfiso Buthelezi
Members of Executive Councils of Agriculture (MECs)
Director-General
Statistician-General
Heads of departments
Farmers’ unions
Organised labour
Academics
Civil society
Business
Representatives of NGOs
Leaders of banking institutions
Ladies and gentlemen
Good day
I would like to welcome you all to this prestigious event, and also thank you for making time to attend during this busy time. I hope you are all well rested and ready to move South Africa forward.
Ladies and gentlemen let me take this opportunity to deliver a special thank you to Fruit South Africa for sponsoring this important engagement—we could not have done this without your support, indeed working together we can achieve more. This gives me hope ladies and gentlemen, that we can still overcome the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality as government working together with the private sector.
I would like to thank you all for showing commitment and support on the implementation of the sector priorities. At the beginning of my term in office, I committed myself to engaging with stakeholders; and indeed, it is a great pleasure of mine to say that together we have done well and contributed positively to the economic growth of our beloved country. All stakeholders have shown positive commitment and support during departmental structured engagements.
Furthermore, ladies and gentlemen let me take this opportunity to appreciate the commitment and robust discussions we had in curbing the brutality on farm killings, murders and stock theft during the summit on farm killings, murders and stock theft held in June 2018.
It is worth mentioning ladies and gentlemen that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has been informed of positive laboratory results for cattle foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Vhembe District of Limpopo. Samples were collected during a disease investigation after reports of cattle with lameness were received. The positive location is just outside the FMD Control Zone in the Free Zone without vaccination. The matter has been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on Monday, 7 January 2019.
As a result of this development, the official OIE recognised FMD-free status of South Africa is temporarily suspended. Consequently, any exports where FMD free zone attestation is required cannot be certified. The affected area is under quarantine and no movement of animals and animal products is allowed. Farmers further away from the outbreak are cautioned to observe bio-security measures not to allow any new animals into their herds, and to minimise the movement of their own herds to other farms. As we speak, a team of experts from the department and the Limpopo Veterinary Services are on the ground conducting further investigations to verify the results and determine the extent of the outbreak. The control measures will be determined by the findings of this investigation.
Ladies and gentleman, since the launch of the Aquaculture Operation Phakisa programme in 2014, various milestones were achieved in order to develop the aquaculture sector. The DAFF has registered thirty five (35) Phakisa projects and identified eight (8) Aquaculture Development Zones (ADZ) throughout the country. These Zones will be dedicated for aquaculture development with the aim of creating an enabling environment and facilitating investment.
In 2018, more than 4000 tons were farmed by the 35 projects and the total employment was 1943 jobs. During the period of 2017/2018 the projected additional investment was R616 million of which R236 million was from government and R379 million was from the private sector. In terms of skills and capacity building, the highlight was five (5) state veterinarians were trained at Stirling University on fish health which is a scarce skill in South Africa.
Since the amendment of the Marine Living Resources Act in 2014 which formally recognised the previously marginalised small-scale fishers in South Africa, DAFF has commenced with a small-scale fisheries program whose aim is to establish a new small-scale fishery throughout the coastal communities of South Africa. This initiative has seen over 10 000 individual traditional fishers being recognised as small-scale fishers for the first time in South Africa’s history.
Delegates it is my pleasure to inform you that over 200 communities in the four coastal provinces will now be able to access marine resources legally for the purpose of participating in the ocean’s economy and for food security. During 2018, Government has allocated the first 15-year fishing rights to Port Nolloth and Honderklipbaai in the Northern Cape Province where a total of 103 individually recognised small-scale fishers have been assisted to register two co-operatives for the purpose of receiving economically sustainable 15-year fishing rights. This will benefit the broader communities of Northern Cape.
For 2019, the Government is in the process of finalising the allocation of 15-year fishing rights to 75 registered co-operatives comprised of 5335 small-scale fishers in Eastern Cape; 45 registered co-operatives comprised of 2184 small-scale fishers in KwaZulu-Natal and co-operatives which will comprise of over 2500 small-scale fishers in Western Cape.
Ladies and gentleman the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP) 2015/2016 Appeals process has been finalised, with the exception of Horse Mackerel, which should be completed shortly. DAFF has also started the process of revising policies and application forms for those 12 sectors in which rights expire in 2020.
DAFF has carried out a number of compliance and enforcement measures, often in partnership with other law enforcement agencies in the six prioritised fishing sectors, namely hake, abalone, rock lobster, linefish, pelagics and squid. These have involved both land and sea-based operations, patrols, inspections and investigations.
The persisting drought had a significant negative impact on agricultural production. StatsSA, (2018) second quarter report indicated that the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry was one of the largest negative contributors to growth in GDP in the second quarter with a decrease of 29,2% and contributed -0,8 of a percentage point to GDP growth. The decrease was mainly because of a drop in the production of field crops and horticultural products.
During 2017/18, the country saw an improvement in rain received after below-normal precipitation experienced in 2016/17 and previous years. However, the situation continued to deteriorate in the Western Cape, some parts of Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape provinces. While government and various stakeholders have put various mitigation measures in place to manage and address the effects of drought, the conditions are still persisting in some areas in various provinces.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) classified the national drought disaster which was later declared as such on 13 March 2018 (and lapsed on 13 June 2018). The WC was allocated R40m for provision of animal feed during 2017/18 and R38m during the current financial year. NC received an allocation of R127 m for provision of fodder since the end of last financial year to current. Both provinces are currently assisting farmers with feed for livestock.
In May 2018 National Treasury called for applications of funding from the provisional allocation of R6 billion which was announced during the budget speech. Affected provinces submitted their funding requests amounting to R1,2 billion through DAFF and the outcomes of such applications are still awaited. The funding will be used for long term drought mitigation projects should the request be approved.
Ladies and gentlemen the issue of a proper farmer register has been a constant concern from the industry due to inaccurate/misrepresented and outdated statistics of farmers across the country.
It is my pleasure to inform you that the DAFF and Stats SA have therefore come up with a combined project of developing statistics on commercial and non-commercial farmers. The two phased project, will consist of the first phase which is the Census of Commercial Agriculture (CoCA), covering commercial farmers and the second phase, the Producer/Farmer Register (PFR), covering the non-commercial (smallholder) farmers.
It is worth noting that the department has begun the process of reviewing the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947) to ensure that it is aligned to the current drive of government to ensure easier access and improved turnaround times.
This Act provides for the registration of fertilisers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies, stock remedies, sterilising plants and pest control operators. It also regulates or prohibits the importation, sale, acquisition, disposal or use of fertilisers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies
As we all know Act 36 is the crux of agricultural production. The department intends splitting the Act 36 into three Acts. The fertilisers component has been prioritised since we know that eradication of food insecurity hinges on the access and availability of fertilisers. We urge all our farmers and agribusiness stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the consultation workshops that the department will be rolling out shortly.
Forum delegates, in terms of market access, South African agricultural exports have been growing steadily in the past five years beside the advent of drought, diseases like food and mouth, avian flu and swine flu over the same period. The results can be attributed to the collaborative work between DAFF Attachés, plant health, animal health, International Trade directorates as well as industry bodies.
The work included signing of an MoU and Protocols by the Minister with BRICS member countries, we have seen exponential growth of exports with countries like Japan (46%) and gaining market access for new products in countries like USA, China, India, Philippines, etc.
Once again I would like to thank Fruit SA for making this engagement a reality. I would also like to acknowledge all the stakeholders that continue to support the department tirelessly with various forms of donations; such as the food donations worth more than a million rand, which we received from you ladies and gentlemen; during the 2018 World Food Day Commemoration held in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, you must know that we don’t take your generosity for granted.
I would also like to extend my gratitude for the generous support and commitment shown by stakeholders when they provided sponsorship towards the 2018 National Extension Advisory Services Awards (NEASA) held in Mahikeng in the North West Province.
The department values and appreciates your continuous support. Let us continue working together towards the betterment of our country; and we, as government, are committed to working together with all our stakeholders to ensure that through agriculture, forestry and fisheries we move South Africa forward.
Ngiyabonga,
Ke a leboga,
Roleboha,
Enkosi,
Baie Dankie,
Thank you.
