Agri budget met with mixed reactions

Role players have had mixed reactions to the recent budget address delivered by Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza. Glenneis Kriel reports.

- Glenneis Kriel

The development of traditional agricultural areas, previously known as reserves, will be a key priority during the coming financial year, according to Minister Thoko Didiza of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Didiza made the announcement during her budget speech, which was delivered on 9 May.

She referred to an analysis by the National Agricultural Marketing Council, which found that placing a mere 10% of this land back into production would unlock 500 000 job opportunities and increase GDP by R59 billion.

She said that only 9% of agricultural output was produced by previously disadvantaged farmers, implying that the sector was gradually improving on inclusivity, but "still a far cry from the vision of a united and prosperous agriculture sector".

She added that the blended finance model mentioned in the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan would soon be extended to commercial banks to aid inclusivity in the sector.