INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION Aim The Department of Agricultureaims to lead and support sustainable agriculture and promote rural development • through ensuring access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food; eliminating skewed participation and inequity in the sector; maximizing growth, employment and income in agriculture; • enhancing the sustainable management of natural agricultural resources and ecological systems; ensuring effective and efficient governance; and ensuring knowledge and information management. PRESENTER: DR SHADRACK MOEPHULI Assistant Director General

2. Strategic overview and key policy developments:2005/06 – 2007/08 Probably the most important challenge for the agriculture sector is providing sufficient food to the nation. This is not only important in a macro and regional context, but especially at household level. Agriculture’s importance is also highlighted by the relative contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), forward and backward linkages in the economy, its share of the labour force and its contribution as an earner of foreign exchange. • Over the past ten years, agriculture in South Africa has provided greater opportunities for participants in the sector in the form of greater access to foreign markets, smallholder participation in the value chains, institutional change and greater co-operation among major role players in agriculture.

3. Strategic overview and key policy developments:2005/06 – 2007/08(Cont.) • The deregulation of local and international markets and the establishment of preferential trade agreements with a number of countries and trading blocks have created significant trade opportunities for South African agriculture and farmers. • Ensuring adequate protection for animal and plant health as well as public health remains a priority for the Department as this has a direct bearing on our ability to provide safe and nutritious food to the South African public; as well as our ability to take advantage of tradeopportunities. The Department of Agriculture has seen rapid growth in its commitments to and participation in international programmes of cooperation. The driving force and basis for the Department’s strategy in Africa is the NEPAD Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). The Department continues to interact with key continental and international partners and stakeholders to generate greater access to financial, technical and institutional support for the implementation of NEPAD. In this regard, the DoA, on behalf of the government of South Africa hosted the 23rd FAO Africa Regional Conference, which agreed on a set of actions within the context of the NEPAD agriculture plan and reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.

4. PROGRAMME 1Administration The Administration Programme conducts the overall management of the department and provides strategic leadership and corporate services through the activities of the Minister, the Deputy Minister and senior management. It also provides for financial, procurement, legal and IT services, an internal audit function, human resources management and secretariat services. Within this Programme, there is also adirectorate that deals with the collection of agricultural debt.

5. PROGRAMME 2 Farmer Support and Development Farmer Support and Developmentfocuses on developing norms and standards for the settlement of emerging farmers; food security and rural development; agricultural finance and cooperative development and agricultural risks and disaster management. PRESENTER: SAM MALATJI Acting Assistant Director-General

6. Programme 2: Subprogrammes The programme consists of five subprogrammes including a management component: • Farmer Settlement provides support for the settlement of commercially viable farmers from the previously disadvantaged communities, with the primary focus on implementing the Land and Agrarian Reform programmes. • Agricultural Finance and Cooperative Development provides training and Institutional support to agricultural cooperatives and develops policies and programmes for cooperatives in the sector. It also facilitates the implementation and monitoring of the agricultural credit schemes to broaden access for smallholder producers. • Food Security and Rural Development develops policies and norms and standards to ensure food security and maintains the national food security management system.

7. Programme 2: Subprogrammes (cont.) • Agricultural Risks and Disaster Management develops the policy framework for agricultural risk and disaster management within which early warnings and post- disaster support are provided to agricultural enterprises. • Registrar of Cooperatives is responsible for the administration of the Co-operatives Act that facilitates the registration of of all cooperatives in South Africa. This function is being transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry and the focus of the Department of Agriculture will be on supporting the development of agricultural cooperatives.

8. Programme 2: Measurable objectives

9. Programme 2: Measurable objectives (cont.)

10. PROGRAMME 3 Agricultural Trade and Business Development Agricultural Trade and Business Development to enhance agribusiness development, competitive markets and the international trade environment through improved opportunities and more equitable access in order to maximise growth, employment and equity in the agricultural sector. It financially assists the National Agricultural Marketing Council PRESENTER: GERDA VAN DIJK Senior Manager: International Trade

11. Programme 3: Subprogrammes Apart from a management component, the programme comprises the following subprogrammes: • Business and Entrepreneurial Development provides strategic support to the development of viable and empowered businesses to stimulate growth and promote unity through partnerships and niches. • International Trade contributes to a favourable change in the global agricultural trade environment. • Marketing supports the development of a competitive agricultural marketing environment that serves the interests of all value chain role-players. • National Agricultural Marketing Counciladvises the Minister on the efficacy of the national food and agricultural marketing systems. The department makes a transfer on the basis of approved strategic and business plans.

12. Programme 3: Measurable objectives

13. PROGRAMME 4 Economic Research and Analysis Economic Research and Analysis supports the establishment and management of national agriculture databases and provides for the collection and analysis of agricultural statistics. The Programme monitors and evaluates the economic state and performance of the sector and produces quarterly reports on sector trends. PRESENTER: RODNEY DREDGE Acting Assistant Director-General

14. Programme 4: Subprogrammes The Programme consists of two subprogrammes apart from the management component: • Production and Resource Economicsinterprets, provides timely sector, production and resource economics information and advice to relevant stakeholders for improved decisionmaking. • Agricultural Statisticscollects and manages statistics on agriculture and food security

15. Programme 4: Measurable objectives

16. PROGRAMME 5 Agricultural Production Agricultural Production develops policies to facilitate increased and sustainable agricultural production. In addition, the programme ensures support for agricultural research, technology development and transfer. PRESENTER: SHADRACK MOEPHULI Assistant Director-General

17. Programme 5: Subprogrammes Apart from the management component, the programme comprises the following subprogrammes: • Animal and Aqua Production facilitates the development of policies and instruments to enhance the production and management of livestock from veld and forages; semi-intensive and intensive livestock production; game farming; and inland fisheries • Plant Production supports a combination of traditional farming practices and agricultural sciences to promote productive and sustainable agricultural practices. • Scientific Research and Development identifies research priorities for agriculture, and mobilises resources and directs public sector investment towards such priorities. This directorate also supports the National Agricultural Research Forum. • Genetic Resourcesprovides and regulates a national management system in support of the safe and sustainable use of genetically modified organisms. 

18. Programme 5: Subprogrammes (Cont.) • Agricultural Research Council department provides for transfers to this subprogramme on basis of the approved strategic and business plans •   To provide information and technology on agricultural production systems in order to increase agricultural productivity and profitability

19. Programme 5: Measurable objectives

20. PROGRAMME 6 Sustainable Resources Management and Use Sustainable Resources Management and Use develops policies and norms and standards on the management and use of land and water resources in agriculture PRESENTER: SIZWE MKHIZE Assistant Director-General

21. Programme 6: Subprogrammes Apart from the management function, the programme is organised into two subprogrammes: • Water Use and Irrigation Development provides access to water resources by providing borehole and irrigation infrastructure and institutional support to those previously excluded from commercial farming. • Land Use and Soil Management develops and implements policy, legislation and projects supporting sustainable agriculture, and provides for the community-based LandCare programme.

22. Programme 6: Measurable objectives

23. PROGRAMME 7 National Regulatory Services National Regulatory Services is responsible for managing the risks associated with animal and plant diseases and pests, ensuring food safety and bio-safety. This is done by developing policy and legislation and implementing compliance and operational support systems. PRESENTER: MORONGOE RATHEBE Acting Assistant Director-General

24. Programme 7: Subprogrammes Apart from the management function, the Programme has four Subprogrammes • Food Safety and Quality Assurance ensures that food control is coordinated and that products destined for human consumption are safe. • Plant Health manages risks associated with plants and plant products and assists in the negotiation of protocols for the import and export of animals and animal products. • Animal Health manages risks associated with animals and animal products and assists in the negotiation of protocols for the import and export of animals and animal products. • South African AgriculturalFood, Quarantine and Inspection Services ensures that agricultural products for import and export do not transmit diseases, are safe for human consumption and adhere to international protocols on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

25. Programme 7: Measurable objectives

26. PROGRAMME 8 Communication and Information Management Communication and Information Managementprovides agricultural news and information, facilitates and manages international relations as well as facilitates skills development and the training of new and existing farmers. PRESENTER: STEVE GALANE Senior Manager: Agricultural Information Services

27. Programme 8: Subprogrammes Apart from the management function it consists of four subprogrammes • Agricultural Information Services provides agricultural news and information through publications and electronic media and facilitates general public communication. • International Relationsfacilitates, co-ordinates and supports bilateral and multilateral relations, manages membership fees to international organisations and maintains offices in Brussels, Rome, Washington and Beijing.  • Education and Training facilitates skills development in the agricultural sector.  • Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute provides for the training of LRAD beneficiaries and other categories of farmers.

28. Programme 8: Measurable objectives

29. PROGRAMME 9 Programme Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Planning, Monitoring and Evaluationconsolidates and supports strategic and operational planning in the Department as well as facilitating knowledge management through tracking and monitoring the implementation of the departmental strategic plan. PRESENTER: AMANDA SHOKANE Senior Manager: Programme Planning

30. Programme 9: Subprogrammes The Programme consists of two subprogrammes • Programme planning supports the Department in strategic and operational planning and coordination of projects in DoA • Monitoring and evaluation facilitates knowledge management through the tracking, monitoring and evaluation of the strategic plan and impact assessments.

31. Programme 9: Measurable objectives