Photo: FW Archive
The budget vote for the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development delivered recently by MEC Saki Mokoena contained R5 million allocated to plant cannabis and implement a cannabis value- adding project in the province.
Mokoena noted that 5% of the province’s economic activity was attributed to agriculture, higher than the 3% it contributed nationally.
“Agriculture has an important role to play, and if we expand production, we can expand our economy and job creation in the province. But it’s important that we focus not only on primary production, but value-adding as well.”
Bemoaning the fact that the R814,8 million allocated to the department was 2,8% lower than the previous year, he said underfunding negatively affected the ability of the province, which he referred to as the bread basket of the country, to improve agricultural output.
The largest portion of the budget was dedicated to salaries, which reduced government’s capacity to finance agricultural projects and assist farmers. The 2023/24 budget included a R6 million allocation to assist 56 farmers affected by the Jagersfontein disaster, where sludge from a nearby mine flooded agricultural land, killing livestock.
An amount of R15 million was set aside for training 1 700 farmers and providing mentorship for 30 projects. In addition, R10,4 million was allocated to support the placement of 120 entrepreneurial development graduates in various enterprises for work experience, a project coordinated by Agri Free State.
An amount of R30,9 million would be provided to support 12 projects in the province, mainly for growing maize, sunflower and fodder.
In addition, R45,8 million was set aside for a mechanisation programme to purchase tractors, implements and operational inputs.
An amount of R3,6 million was provided for livestock improvement through a collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council.
Mokoena noted the impact of crime in the farming community, and said funding would be allocated to set up nine intelligent network cameras and make two drones available to farmers to help combat stock theft and farm attacks.
