National government slashes transformative agricultural redress

It has been revealed that National Government has cut the province’s budget for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) by more than half for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years. The 2018/19 year saw an allocated budget of over R316-million, and subsequent funding has decreased to just under R152-million in 2019/20 and R90,343,000 for the current financial year.

National government has therefore effectively cut CASP funding by over 71% in the Western Cape. This is despite the vast need for agricultural reform and support, worsened by drought conditions in parts of the province as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.

CASP has been highly successful in the Western Cape, with the province meeting expenditure targets and supporting over 164 projects since 2018. The projects aim to address post-settlement agricultural support services. They are also critical for transformation and redress of past injustices by offering agricultural development support for beneficiaries of land reform, restitution, and redistribution.

Persons from previously disadvantaged backgrounds are further assisted in their work with local businesses and export markets. Through the CASP grant training and capacity building is provided to persons from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Furthermore, the Black Producers Commercialisation Programme aims to increase the footprint of black farmers through working together with commodity organisations where access to local and international markets are facilitated.

I have therefore written to national Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, in request of a detailed breakdown regarding the information that informs this decision. I will also engage provincial Minister of Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, on how the province plans to support struggling farmers in the future.

Farms in the Western Cape account for 10% of all South Africa’s farms, but provide 23% of agriculture production in the country which highlights the need for an increase in funding rather than a reduction. This is especially needed during a global pandemic and a severe drought. Food security in the province, and country, stands to become compromised through the loss of jobs, farms, and production of fresh produce.

The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to creating and maintaining a strong agricultural environment which serves not only the province but the country as food security remains a top priority.