Question NW669 to the Minister of Agriculture
30 September 2024 - NW669
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture
(1) Whether the current departmental policy on mechanisation is still relevant to the challenges that farmers are facing on a daily basis; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details, (2) Whether there are plans to review the specified policy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
- Yes, mechanisation support is still relevant as it has been incorporated into the approved National Policy on Comprehensive Producer Development Support (NPCPDS). The NPCPDS was drafted to provide mechanisation support to farmers in accordance with producer categories as defined in the Policy. The need to categorise producers was aimed at providing support according to the size of the operation and considered the fact that producers’ needs and challenges on mechanisation vary.
- No. The mechanization policy is already incorporated into the National Policy on Comprehensive Producer Development Support which was approved by Cabinet in March 2024. Mechanization is regarded as part of the holistic support that is provided to producers together with inputs in terms of the Policy (refer to Section 1.1.1 in page 14 of the NPCPDS).