Page 557 - Demo

Department: Agriculture%uf0b7 The department has set a target of commercializing 100 land reform farms across all commodities and across the province. This will be through infrastructure and production support as well as improving access to funding tools that will reduce dependency on state resources. %uf0b7 To reduce poverty the department seeks to improve access to food since the country is not necessarily food insecure but the inability of households to access food due to high prices. The department seeks to pursue a bold initiative that will drive local food processing with a focus on those items that dominate the diet of the local population. In this regard the Department will work towards positioning Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) to drive commercialization and local food processing. %uf0b7 On the other hand the department will accelerate primary production to supplement the food processing initiatives while making all its efforts in the fight against poverty by strengthening food security initiatives. 1.6 The Acts, rules and regulations The key mandate of the department is derived from Schedules 4 and Section 25 of the Constitution. There are a number of Acts that have been promulgated to further support the department%u2019s constitutional mandate. %uf0b7 Agricultural Development Act (of 1999); %uf0b7 Implementation of Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (of 1983); %uf0b7 Eastern Cape Rural Finance Corporation Act (of 1999); Animal Health Act (of 2002); and %uf0b7 Meat Safety Act (of 2001). %uf0b7 Other constitutional issues affecting rural development include the allocation of powers and responsibilities to national departments and provincial governments to administer land and promote and/or support agrarian reform. 1.7 Budget decisions The department receives funding through both the equitable share and conditional grants to support agricultural programs. An additional allocation with a carry-through was provided for the wage agreement, along with a once-off allocation for custom feeding centres and the first two years of the MTEF for implementing the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS), which includes the system, ear tags, and tattooing. Operating within a constrained budget framework, the department relies primarily on equitable share and conditional grants, with no additional funding sources projected for the upcoming financial year. The provincial government for the 7th Administration emphasize agriculture as a key sector for job creation and economic growth. While some of these priorities have been accommodated within the existing budget baseline, significant funding shortfalls remain. Despite financial constraints, the department remains committed to balancing fiscal responsibility with the urgent need for agricultural development, job creation, and rural economic growth. By strategically reallocating resources and fostering targeted partnerships, the department aims to meet its core objectives and sustain progress in the agricultural sector. 1.8 Aligning departmental budgets to achieve government%u2019s prescribed outcomes The 7th Administration has identified three Priority areas which are: %uf0b7 Inclusive Growth and Job Creation %uf0b7 Reduce Poverty and Tackle the High Cost of Living %uf0b7 A Capable, Ethical and Developmental State 536