Agriculture in the Free State will have to make do with a smaller budget. In his maiden budget speech, the newly-elected MEC for agriculture and rural development, Saki Mokoena, revealed his decreased budget of 1.9%. Mokoena delivered his budget vote in Bethlehem where he vowed to turn his department around, placing much focus on service delivery.
This year this department has a budget of R814.8 million, of which a large portion is dedicated to salaries. The previous year’s budget was R830 million.
“Based on the plans of repositioning agriculture in our province as a key economic driver, we are concerned about the continued decrease in our allocated budget,” Sakie told attendees.
Concerns about government’s level of investment
According to him, there is a growing concern about the level of investment by the government in the sector.
This is especially considering the importance of the sector and the exposure of the sector to natural disasters such as runaway veld fires, floods, drought, and outbreaks of diseases such as foot-and-mouth (FMD), swarm locust, and African Swine Fever, Sakie said.
The impact of continuous underfunding undermines the province’s ability to fully exploit its competitive advantage for increased agricultural production, export opportunities and overall contribution to the economic growth both national and provincial, Mokeona acknowledged.
“Agriculture is a productive sector and key to job creation, food security and economic growth we badly need as a province. The Free State needs to fully invest in agriculture,” he added.
Here’s how the money will be spent
An amount of R10.4 million is expected to go towards supporting 120 entrepreneurial development graduates. They will be placed for work experience in various enterprises coordinated by Agri Free State, Sakie said.
Cannabis production will also get a slice of the cheese this year. “Under our planning and implementation programme in the 2023/24 financial year, we have set aside millions to plan and implement cannabis projects,” Sakie said.
The department said it would work closely with the relevant local municipalities and departments to ensure that there is inclusive growth and job creation.
Mokoena said an amount worth R30.9 million will support 12 projects in the province, mainly on commodities like maize, sunflower and fodder.
Attention will be given to each district in the province, Sakie said. The MEC promised fully funded projects, which he will monitor to ensure full implementation.
“In the Fezile Dabi district, we have allocated an amount of R20 million for a total number of seven projects in commodities like piggery, red meat and maize.
“In Lejweleputswa a total of R18.9 million with a total of nine projects, [focussing] on horticulture, maize and read. Mangaung metro will get R13.3 million on [the] same commodities,” he said.
Other districts like Thabo Mofutsanyana will be allocated R37.7 million with a total of 13 projects, while Xhariep will get R16.8 million, Sakie said.
“For 2023/24financial year the department has set aside R45.8 million for the mechanisation programme which is purchasing of tractors, implements and operational inputs.”
“Livestock improvement remains one of the key programmes that we are implementing in all district municipalities in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), to enable our farmers on farms to gain more skills in managing their livestock we have set aside R3.6 million,” he said.
Investment in youth welcomed
Mokoena also announced an amount of R15 million to train 1 700 farmers and provide mentorship for 30 projects.
“Our style of work through the measures we have announced in this budget vote will seek to harness productive relations between all farmers, farmworkers and farm dwellers in our rural communities.
“We will also employ a hands-on approach where we will physically visit, inspect and work with all those we support to realise the full economic value of what we are seeking to achieve,” he said.
According to Petrus Sitho from the organisation PPS Stop Farm Murders, investment in the safety of farmers and farmworkers is extremely important as this would ensure food security in the province.
Llewellyn Louw, poultry farmer and co-founder of Jacobsdal Trading said he is happy to hear there will be an investment towards the youth. Louw would like to see rural youth benefitting.
“We take note of the investment, and we would like to see this happening at the grassroots level where young people are actually farming,” he said.
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