By Staff Reporter
QWAQWA – Agriculture and rural development MEC Thembeni Nxangisa has outlined plans for 2022/23 financial year, as he tabled his department’s budget for the new financial year.
Nxangisa said the department is allocated an amount of R830.7-million which will be spent on implementing projects and programmes in line with the New Agricultural Integrated Growth and Development Policy (IGDP) as well as the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, New Growth Path (NGP), Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
“Revitalization of Agriculture and Agro-Processing Value-Chains (RAAVC) anchored by the newly envisioned National Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plans (AAMP) serve as a response, for the sector’s growth and development through commodities with high growth potential, food security and contribution to the GDP.”
Nxangisa said these projects and programmes will be implemented within the District Development Model.
“For the financial year 2022/23, we have received R190.4 million under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and we are planning to implement 18 projects that will benefit 2 412 beneficiaries to the total allocation of R 62.7 million and 11 programmes to the value of R 127.6 million.
“In Mangaung Metro, we will implement four projects to the value of R30.2 million. In Thabo Mofutsanyana District, we will implement one project to the value of R 8.5 million. In Lejweleputswa District, we will implement two projects to the value of R7.6 million. In Xhariep District, we will implement oneproject to the value of R950 000.00.”
He also disclosed that the department will continue with the Commonage Development Programme and will support 10 commonages (two per District Municipality and in the Mangaung Metro) in the financial year (2022/23) to the value of R15.5 million.
“We will also improve on-farm infrastructure that includes irrigation schemes, mechanization, farm buildings and agro-processing. We also implement the following commodities: Vegetables, Piggery, Pastures/fodder, Livestock initiatives and Grain/Crop projects. We also support six identified sites (Kroonstad, Viljoenskroon, Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Wesselsbron and Glen) for Cannabis research with infrastructure development.”
