Question NW2078 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
21 June 2022 - NW2078
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she has strategies in place to (a) support and (b) create a platform in which rural farmers can meet new opportunities and grow and create pockets of success within the agricultural sector; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(a),(b) Yes. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is implementing various strategic initiatives catering for farmer support. These include the Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) as a rural smallholder farmer outreach and capacity building unit. FPSUs provide primary production inputs, mechanization support, extension services, storage facilities and training to producers. FPSU serves as a one-stop service centre for rural smallholder farmers within the catchment area of the FPSU.
Production infrastructure in a form of irrigation infrastructure, livestock handling facilities, storage facilities, livestock water systems and fencing are amongst those provided to enhance productivity of the farmers.
Through conditional grants in a form of Ilima/Letsema and Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, DALRRD also provide smallholder farmers with production support working closely with Provincial Departments of Agriculture. Land Development Support and Jobs fund initiative are the two other strategic interventions DALRRD is implementing targeting smallholder farmers.