Question NW3049 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
19 October 2023 - NW3049
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What are the full, relevant details of (a) the handover of agricultural inputs that took place recently in KwaZulu-Natal, (b) the role being played by the SA Farmers Development Association in the programmes of her department’s, (c) the total cost of (i) agricultural inputs and/or farming equipment for items purchased for farmers and (ii) other expenses incurred and (d) how the selection criteria was applied to select the beneficiaries; (2) what are the reasons that she and/or her department used the office of a certain political organisation (name furnished) to advertise her visit for the handover ceremony; (3) what are the relevant details of the total expenses per item bought for farmers; (4) whether any political affiliations were considered of the farmers to whom the agricultural inputs and farming equipment were allocated; if not, what criteria were considered; if so, what (a) are the relevant details of the suppliers that her department procured the agricultural inputs from and (b) is the total cost thereof?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) approved South African Farmers Development Association’s (SAFDA’s) ratoon management project for small-scale farmers in the sugar commodity to the value of R99 267 367.32. The project benefited over 10 679 farmers with a total of 116 415 bags of fertilizer across eleven mill areas in the six districts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province.
(b) SAFDA, through its Service Level Agreement with DALRRD, applied for ratoon management support/intervention to the Small-Scale Growers (SSGs) from the six KZN districts. As a commodity organisation, SAFDA uses Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) as instruments of delivery for all its farmer support services. This fertilizer project is accordingly delivered through FPSUs. FPSUs are geographically aligned and clustered according to industry mill areas and municipal districts. All 116 415 bags of fertilizer have been delivered. Verification of the portfolio of evidence was conducted by both SAFDA and provincial and district officials of DALRRD.
(c)(i),(ii),(d) The total cost for agricultural inputs was R99 267 367.32, and the total farming equipment purchased for all six FPSUs was R66 070 762.16; this equipment was procured over two years based on the approved business plans. Other minor FPSU office equipment procured amounts to R1 917 201.47. SAFDA was responsible for further distribution to the farmers at their cost using their existing fleet of trucks and bakkies.
(2) It was not advertised through specific political organisations, but the handover ceremony was organised through DALRRD’s communications unit, SAFDA communication unit and district, and local municipalities; and the advert was through loud hailing by communications officials.
3. The table below illustrates a summary of production input deliveries and the expenditure incurred:
SSG FERTILIZER PROJECT: 2023 SUMMARY OF DELIVERABLES
|
Municipal District |
BUSINESS PLAN |
RAND VALUES |
Bags @R856 |
|
|
|
Area |
Growers |
|
|
|
Umzimkulu |
1 436.65 |
235 |
6 148 862 |
7 183 |
|
Sezela |
3 166.59 |
1 661 |
13 553 005 |
15 833 |
|
UGU |
4 603.24 |
1 896 |
19 701 867 |
23 016 |
|
Umfolozi |
2 478.89 |
1 624 |
10 609 649 |
12 394 |
|
UMKHANYAKUDE |
2 478.89 |
1 624 |
10 609 649 |
12 394 |
|
Gledhow |
2 210.40 |
182 |
9 460 512 |
11 052 |
|
Darnall |
1 948.55 |
160 |
8 339 794 |
9 742 |
|
Maidstone |
1 476.30 |
343 |
6 318 564 |
7 382 |
|
ILEMBE |
5 635.25 |
685 |
24 118 870 |
28 176 |
|
Noodsberg |
849.60 |
714 |
3 636 288 |
4 248 |
|
Eston |
737.45 |
487 |
3 156 286 |
3 687 |
|
UMGUNGUNDLOVU |
1 587.05 |
1 201 |
6 792 574 |
7 935 |
|
Pongola RCL |
136.60 |
16 |
584 648 |
683 |
|
ZULULAND |
136.60 |
16 |
584 648 |
683 |
|
Amatikulu |
4 040.22 |
2 661 |
17 292 142 |
20 201 |
|
Felixton/Makhatini/Jozini |
4 801.75 |
2 596 |
20 551 490 |
24 009 |
|
KING CHETSHWAYO |
8 841.97 |
5 257 |
37 843 632 |
44 210 |
|
TOTALS |
23 283 |
10 679 |
97 274 342.52 |
116 415 |
Note! The total of R97 274 342.52 excludes management fees of R1 993 024.80.
4. No. Political affiliations were not considered, and therefore, the public procurement process was followed by requests for more than three written quotations from various service providers in the sector and the responsive quotation in terms of price was approved by both SAFDA (implementing agent) with the oversight of the Department. Kynoch Fertilizer was the preferred supplier as they were also the lowest quote and even leading in this industry.
(a),(b) Fall away.