Although the South African economy reels from the consequences as a result of the unduly prolonged lockdown measures that were deployed by the national government, the DA in the Western Cape appreciates that the agricultural sector in South Africa was able to persevere and grow at a staggering 13.1% in 2020.
According to Agri SA, the growth is in part due to the general good weather conditions of the past year. But more importantly, agriculture was classified as an essential service during the periods in which government enforced its lockdown regulations. Owing to these reasons, the sector was saved from facing the same fate as experienced by the majority of the economic sectors.
The growth in agriculture was achieved despite the challenges faced by the wine industry due to the bans and limitations on wine sales and prolonged drought conditions in various districts. In the Western Cape, further damage to agriculture was averted through support by the provincial Department of Agriculture’s interventions. The provincial government stepped in to provide much needed support to the industry. This support included R50 million in drought relief towards the end of 2019, R12 million in support to wine tourism employees during the lockdown and a further R4 million donation of dry fodder for farmers in the Central Karoo. Furthermore, the province continued to assist SMMEs in the sector with development programmes to further facilitate their growth.
The contribution by the agricultural sector to economic growth, job creation and food security would have gone much further, had it not been for the ongoing threats by the national government to expropriate farms without compensation. Our recent history of fraud, corruption and the undue advancement of some well-connected individuals at national government level, proved that these threats are real.
Therefore, as Chairperson of the Agriculture Standing Committee in the province, I shall:
- Put questions to the provincial government as to how they plan to support and grow the sector in the portfolio discussions on Vote 11 for Agriculture, following the 2021/22 Budget as delivered on 16 March 2021.
- Approach organisations in agriculture to receive their thoughts on smarter lockdown regulations and methods in which to grow the sector’s markets.
Moving forward, we call on the national government to express its support for our farmers and to allay the fears related to expropriation without compensation. We also call on the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma to not hinder its business activities with future, and unnecessary adverse Covid-19 restrictions.
The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to saving livelihoods and providing good governance that will lay the foundations for strong growth and prosperity for agriculture and the economy as a whole.
