The recently appointed North West MEC, Madoda Sambatha, detailed the province’s department of agriculture and rural development budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
He highlighted comprehensive plans for sustainable agriculture, disaster risk mitigation, infrastructure development, economic support for farmers, and significant investments in skills development and land reform to promote agricultural growth and resilience in the province.
Sambatha said the department’s budget for the fiscal year is set at R1,209,718,000. “This budget aims to address agricultural and rural development needs, despite the financial constraints and the pressing issues of hunger and poverty,” he noted.
Agriculture producer development and support
According to Sambatha, the agriculture department will continue to strength agricultural development using the Casp and Ilima/Letsema budgets.
His speech focused on the sub-sectors of livestock, veterinary services, grain commodities, horticulture, food security initiatives, farmer’s forum, and bee farming.
“On livestock, the department identified challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. A budget of R49.9 million directed to 535 beneficiaries will focus on red meat production, fencing, boreholes, and handling facilities.
“On veterinary services, following the success of the livestock identification and traceability system (LITS) and artificial insemination trial, a budget of R152.5 million has been allocated. The department expressed its support for North-West University’s resolution to establish a veterinary school in Mahikeng,” he said.
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Sambatha added that the department highlighted the top three grain commodities – soya beans, sunflower and maize – in the previous season.
“The department continues to support these commodities, despite budget constraints. For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the department will support 256 beneficiaries under the grain commodity, with R 54.9 million. The intervention with this budget will range from supplying and delivering diesel, repairing pivots, installing solar systems for water pumping and construction of reservoirs.”
The MEC highlighted that a budget of R12 million will be set aside for food security targeting 2 600 subsistence farmers and an additional 2 400 will be profiled for the presidential economic stimulus.
Sambatha said the department had allocated 1.2% of the provincial budget for disaster management. “In cases of provincial disaster over the year, relevant provincial state organs should be able to access funds from the provincial contingency fund once the 1.2% brinks have been reached.”
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