• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled his maiden mid-term budget statement today and had little to say about the agricultural sector. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

High hopes for finance minister’s mid-term budget

10th November 2021
Many people love avocados, but did you know that the introduction of just one of these fruits per day can improve the overall quality of your diet? Photo: Pixabay

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

10th August 2022
Davidzo Chizhengeni, animal scientist, founder of KvD livestock, Ika Cronje, farmer and participant in the Corteva Women Agripreneur 2022 programme, Vuyokazi Makapela, a Director at Afrivet, and permaculture farmer, Stephanie Mullins. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Podcast: Prevent rabies with vaccination

10th August 2022
ADVERTISEMENT
Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

10th August 2022
The value of South Africa’s informal farming sector is understated, experts say, and many farmers say that they prefer trading to this segment of the economy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

10th August 2022
Gauteng police recovered and confiscated sheep and goats in Sedibeng this week. Photo: Supplied/SAPS

ICYMI: Police recover stolen livestock

10th August 2022
Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

9th August 2022
Setting up a regenerative smallholding

Setting up a regenerative smallholding

9th August 2022
Determination drives this #SoilSista to succeed

Determination drives this #SoilSista to succeed

9th August 2022
The women who dared to start farming in Mzansi when few others would. Photo: Food For Mzansi

She bosses: ‘We see farming changing for good’

9th August 2022
Refiloe Molefe has vowed to build a new urban farm after the City of Johannesburg bulldozed the site she built in Bertrams. Photo: Supplied/GroundUp

ICYMI: Mama Fifi determined to rise again

9th August 2022
Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

8th August 2022
Claire and Martin Joubert have sacrificed and struggled to become top breeders of Ankole cattle in South Africa. But giving up was never an option, because they wanted to offer only the very best Ankole genetics in the country. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Farming couple lives and breathes Ankole cattle

8th August 2022
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
11 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Food For Mzansi
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
    • All
    • AgriCareers
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Farmers
    • Groundbreakers
    • Innovators
    • Inspiration
    • It Takes a Village
    • Mentors
    • Movers and Shakers
    • Partnerships
    Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

    Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

    Claire and Martin Joubert have sacrificed and struggled to become top breeders of Ankole cattle in South Africa. But giving up was never an option, because they wanted to offer only the very best Ankole genetics in the country. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Farming couple lives and breathes Ankole cattle

    Tackling climate change, one tree at a time

    Agricareers: Veterinary science not for the timid

    Agricareers: Veterinary science not for the timid

    Once struggling farm now a family heirloom

    Optimal yields now at farmers’ finger tips

    Some of the children with the ECD practitioner Yolanda Shabalala. Zero2Five Trust promotes holistic Early Childhood Development in formerly disadvantaged areas by improving learners’ health and education outcomes with nutrition and education programmes. Photo: Supplied/Zero2Five Trust

    Zero2Five: Giving hope to KZN flood victims

    Agripreneur 101: Kupisa Sauce is going places

    Agripreneur 101: Kupisa Sauce is going places

    Ncumisa Mkabile, is a farmer, community activist that has won numerous awards for her work in agriculture. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Farmer, influencer, go-getter – Ncumisa’s all that

  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi

High hopes for finance minister’s mid-term budget

by Tiisetso Manoko
10th November 2021
in News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled his maiden mid-term budget statement today and had little to say about the agricultural sector. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled his maiden mid-term budget statement yesterday and had little to say about the agricultural sector. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

All eyes will be on newly appointed finance minister Enoch Godongwana when he delivers his maiden mid-term budget vote in Parliament tomorrow (11 November 2021). South Africa’s agricultural sector is especially holding on to hope that the minister understands the role agriculture plays in the country.

Godongwana, who took over from Tito Mboweni in August this year, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle, will deliver the speech amid tight economic times, steadily rising fuel prices and continued load shedding by state power utility Eskom.

Afasa’s expectations

The African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) has called for an inclusive and agriculture-centred budget vote to ensure that food security in the country remains stable.

ADVERTISEMENT
SONA: AFASA Chairperson, Neo Masithela.
Afasa chairperson, Neo Masithela. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

The association’s national chairperson, Neo Masithela, says he hopes that the minister understands the critical role of agriculture in South Africa. The organisation would like to see an allocation from Treasury to continue the work that Land Bank has started, in enabling disadvantaged farmers – particularly black farmers – to establish and grow their enterprises.

The budget should take into consideration that this would be in line with the master plan for economic recovery, Masithela points out. “Even though the master plan is not finalised, the mid-term budget should take into consideration that for the growth of the industry and inclusivity, the allocation that the state puts on agriculture should be top priority.”

Invest in a sectoral revamp

Masithela furthermore says the budget should reflect consideration for the challenges that farmers had to face this year: the Covid-19 pandemic, social unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and diseases that caused farmers to lose livestock and crops.

“Because of the volatile situation of the unrest, the country is sitting with a huge lack of development in the poultry industry. The hatching industry is struggling with eggs as a result of what happened in KwaZulu-Natal.” He says that the country should invest more into the historically disadvantaged agricultural sector to prevent a repeat of the current dire situation.

Then there is further need for infrastructure development, especially in rural communities where farmers are still experiencing related day-to-day challenges.

He calls on National Treasury to invest into a revamp of the critical agri sector, and adds that, although they understand that Godongwana is in a tight space, the minister needs to prioritise industries that are contributing more to the economy – and agriculture is one of them.

Afadwu’s expectations

The Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Uinion’s general secretary, Mlamleli Pukwana, says that previous budget cuts to the agricultural department and its entities were a miscalculation on Treasury’s side.

Agricultural food and allied democratic union's (Afadwu’s) general secretary, Mlamleli Pukwana. Photo: Supplied/Afadwu
Agricultural food and allied democratic union’s (Afadwu’s) general secretary, Mlamleli Pukwana. Photo: Supplied/Afadwu

Pukwana states, “If the minister could [rectify] the issue of [previous] budget cuts, we will really be happy.”

He says that even budget cuts to the likes of the CCMA had a problematic impact on the industry, because of delays around disputes between the workforce and employers.

Pukwana also calls on Godongwana to elaborate on how government will finance the land redistribution agenda, which is top of the agenda in the country.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We know that the minister will be delivering this budget vote under tight circumstances such as Covid-19, that no one anticipated, and we do know and acknowledge that government had to divert money to save the lives of South Africans.

“However, the government needs to prioritise the industries and agriculture as one of those sectors that need to be top of the list. Land and food security are very key in South Africa.”

Pukwana says that they are willing to work with the new finance minister to ensure that the livelihoods of many households are kept intact.

Agri SA’s expectations

Agri SA expects the statement to be underpinned by two positive themes, says Kulani Siweya, Agri SA agricultural economist. “The first is the rate of fiscal deterioration being abated markedly.”

This slowed deterioration was brought on by a commodity price windfall that boosted revenue, as well as Stats SA’s benchmarking and rebasing exercise which had a positive impact on the fiscal ratios of higher nominal GDP.

“The second theme expected is the precarious debt outlook, though it does come at a better starting position.”

Whilst these may be positives in the short term, Agri SA says there is still some caution on the long-term view, particularly when considering that many structural challenges remain.

“Some of the things we will be looking out for include sentiments around state-owned entities and if there are any unbudgeted bailouts, as well as National Treasury’s resolve to restrain spending.”

“We believe that these, amongst others, will either set us on a trajectory of turning the tide around entirely or we will see more of the same from the new incumbent and his team.”

Siweya says that, ultimately, this week’s medium-term statement should inspire confidence once again from various spheres. “This is sorely needed in a time where investment in infrastructure has been on the decline and inclusive growth is now an imperative that’s non-negotiable.”

ALSO READ: Cabinet reshuffle: Here’s how it impacts agriculture

Sign up for Farmer’s Inside Track: Join our exclusive platform for new entrants into farming and agri-business, with newsletters and podcasts.

Previous Post

ICYMI: Mzansi joins global project on alpine vegetation

Next Post

Don’t romanticise farming, says hardworking mom

Tiisetso Manoko

Tiisetso Manoko

Tiisetso Manoko is a seasoned journalist with vast experience in community media. He possesses diploma in media studies majoring in journalism, certificate in civic leadership. He loves news from all angels with particular interest in local government, agriculture and politics. He is a staunch Mamelodi Sundowns Football club supporter.

Related Posts

Many people love avocados, but did you know that the introduction of just one of these fruits per day can improve the overall quality of your diet? Photo: Pixabay

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

by Staff Reporter
10th August 2022
0

People across the world enjoy avocados in many different ways. A recent study found that avos have many health benefits,...

Davidzo Chizhengeni, animal scientist, founder of KvD livestock, Ika Cronje, farmer and participant in the Corteva Women Agripreneur 2022 programme, Vuyokazi Makapela, a Director at Afrivet, and permaculture farmer, Stephanie Mullins. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Podcast: Prevent rabies with vaccination

by Vateka Halile
10th August 2022
0

Rabies regularly occurs in wildlife, but it can easily spill over to domestic animals in urban areas, says an Afrivet...

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

by Nicole Ludolph
10th August 2022
0

ADVERTORIAL: Broccoli and cauliflower farmers need to watch out for downy mildew, a plant fungus common in wet conditions. Simon...

The value of South Africa’s informal farming sector is understated, experts say, and many farmers say that they prefer trading to this segment of the economy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

by Tiisetso Manoko
10th August 2022
0

Apart from the 40 000 commercial farmers in Mzansi, hundreds of thousands of smallholders contribute to the economy too. Many...

Next Post
Pheladi Madungandaba may have only started farming a year ago, but she is already making strides in the poultry industry. Her recipe is hard work and research. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Don’t romanticise farming, says hardworking mom

The value of South Africa’s informal farming sector is understated, experts say, and many farmers say that they prefer trading to this segment of the economy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
News

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

by Tiisetso Manoko
10th August 2022
0

Apart from the 40 000 commercial farmers in Mzansi, hundreds of thousands of smallholders contribute to the economy too. Many...

Read more
Gauteng police recovered and confiscated sheep and goats in Sedibeng this week. Photo: Supplied/SAPS

ICYMI: Police recover stolen livestock

10th August 2022
Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

9th August 2022
Setting up a regenerative smallholding

Setting up a regenerative smallholding

9th August 2022
Determination drives this #SoilSista to succeed

Determination drives this #SoilSista to succeed

9th August 2022

Farmers fight on despite lost export markets

ICYMI: Mama Fifi determined to rise again

Get the best out of your pigs’ genetics

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

Make Mokgadi’s impepho-smoked cauliflower

60m. mouths to feed: ‘We’ve got you, Mzansi’

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 12 global awards in the first three years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

Podcast: Prevent rabies with vaccination

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

ICYMI: Police recover stolen livestock

Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.