Question NW2099 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
06 September 2017 - NW2099
Mulaudzi, Adv TE to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
What is the source of agricultural inputs used, supplied and distributed by his department as part of the farmer support programmes?
Reply:
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) does not source, supply or distribute agricultural inputs for farmer support programmes. The DAFF however allocates conditional grants which are transferred to the provincial departments of agriculture as guided by the Division of Revenue Act. The sourcing and distribution of agricultural inputs is the responsibility of Provincial Departments of agriculture. Daff further conducts monitoring of all approved interventions as per approved provincial plans.
The provincial Departments of agriculture source these inputs through a tender process and identify service providers or implementing agents who are entrusted with the responsibility to source and distribute the inputs to identified / approved beneficiaries. The DAFF requires the readiness plans from implementing provinces as well as the input distribution plan. This is aimed at ensuring that the procurement processes are concluded on time by provinces and that the inputs will be received by beneficiaries of the programme on time. For the 2017/18 financial year, the readiness plans are expected from provinces by end of August 2017.