Question NW1142 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
19 December 2019 - NW1142
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
With reference to her reply to question 250 on 20 August 2019, (a) what are the details of the department’s annual target vs achievements year-to-date on the (i) trade figures vs achieved target, (ii) new jobs target vs achieved and (iii) the targeted number of black farmers to be provided with market access vs achieved, (b) why are other AgriParks not functional and (c) what is the detailed action plan to ensure that all AgriParks are functional?
Reply:
(a)(i) Details will be provided by 31 January 2020.
(a)(ii) The target for 2019/2020 financial year is 4109 and achieved to date is 2149
(a)(iii) The target for rural enterprises for 2019/2020 financial year to be supported is 227 and achieved to date is 114
(b) AgriParks are a network of several components. The establishment of AgriParks is a process.
- The Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU), is the first component. It is a rural small-holder farmer outreach and capacity building unit that is established closer to farmers with primary production. The FPSU does primary collection, some storage, provides some processing for the local market, and extension services including mechanization.
- The Agri-hub(AH), is the second component, depending on the effectiveness of the first component. It is a production, equipment hire, processing, packaging, logistics, innovation and training unit.
- The Rural Urban Market Centre (RUMC), is the third component. It links to rural urban and international markets through contracts. This level has not as yet been reached. Acts as a holding facility, releasing produce to urban markets based on seasonal trends; and provides market intelligence and information feedback, to the AH and FPSU using the latest information and communication technologies.
(c) The Department is in the process focusing on the first component, which is the establishment of the Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU). There are 27 prioritized FPSU’s.