Question NW2233 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
21 December 2020 - NW2233
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she has found that there are sufficient vaccines and reagents for Foot and Mouth Disease at the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and Onderstepoort Biological Products to support the livestock farmers in the country in the long term; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she will furnish the state veterinary doctor’s visitation programmes to farmers in all nine provinces for the year 2020 to date; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she will furnish (a) reasons for the strike at ARC and (b) action plans to resolve the strike; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (4) whether she will furnish (a) reasons for the delay in blood samples being tested at ARC and (b) action plans to ensure that this situation is resolved; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
1. Quantities of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine are procured by instruction of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) through the two State Owned Entities (SOEs), namely the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and the Onderstepoort Biological Products. These vaccines are sourced by the SOEs from the Botswana Vaccine Institute for routine vaccination and vaccination when there is an outbreak.
2. Agriculture is a concurrent function as per the Constitution of South Africa. The Provincial Departments of Agriculture are responsible for the provincial operations of veterinary services, including farm visits and schedules.
Below is the state veterinary doctor’s visitation to farmers for the financial year: 2019/20
Province |
Annual Target |
Pre-audited Annual Achievement *** |
Eastern Cape |
11 244 |
13 857 |
Free State |
3 200 |
4 634 |
Gauteng |
8 500 |
7 678 |
KwaZulu Natal |
15 000 |
17 326 |
Limpopo |
15 064 |
11 960 |
Mpumalanga |
17 798 |
15 314 |
Northern Cape |
6 000 |
6 558 |
North West |
12 230 |
17 030 |
Western Cape |
10 000 |
14 333 |
Consolidated |
99 036 |
108 690 |
***Kindly note that figures are based on 2019/20 pre-audited data as reported by provinces.
Below is the state veterinary doctor’s visitation to farmers for the financial year 2020/2021
Province |
Revised Annual Target |
Quarter 1 achievement |
Quarter 2 Achievement *** |
Annual Progress to date |
Annual (%) Performance |
Eastern Cape |
11 024 |
3 288 |
5 924 |
9 212 |
84% |
Free State |
2 400 |
547 |
923 |
1 470 |
61% |
Gauteng |
6 400 |
272 |
1 521 |
1 793 |
28% |
KwaZulu Natal |
20 000 |
3000 |
4 837 |
7 837 |
39% |
Limpopo |
3 050 |
1 767 |
2 939 |
4 706 |
154% |
Mpumalanga |
17 798 |
3 310 |
4 213 |
7 523 |
42% |
Northern Cape |
500 |
275 |
686 |
961 |
192% |
North West |
10 382 |
2 550 |
3 494 |
6 044 |
58% |
Western Cape |
10 000 |
1 911 |
3 768 |
5 679 |
57% |
Consolidated |
81 554 |
16 920 |
28 305 |
45 225 |
55% |
*** For all figures that are highlighted in red, the data has not been verified by DALRRD
3. There is currently no strike at the ARC.
4. (a) The ARC as with many other organizations experienced delay in the procurement of laboratory reagents, mostly due to disruptions in the global supply chains of imported chemicals. (b) The ARC has made adjustments to the complement of employees as per the changes allowed in respect of managing possible impacts of Covid-19, with limited employees on site at any particular point. The ARC is now on full complement of employees to provide full services timeously.