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State of readiness for 2017/18 planting season. Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 17 October 2017. Contents. Background Previous year’s performance - 2016/17 Readiness for 2017/18 planting season Conclusion. Background.
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State of readiness for 2017/18 planting season Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 17 October 2017
Contents • Background • Previous year’s performance - 2016/17 • Readiness for 2017/18 planting season • Conclusion
Background One million hectares of arable land under production by 2019 across the country. Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has adopted food production support through Fetsa Tlala programme. Focus is on stable food crops, such as maize, sorghum & beans Communal land under Traditional Authorities and land reform projects Funding source – Ilima-Letsema for production inputs and mechanisation LDARD is working with other partners towards hunger reduction
Cont …. • Reduction of households vulnerable to food insecurity by 9.5% by 2019/20, food security for all by 2030 – nationally. • Limpopo – highest number of households with adequate access to food – 91,8% against national average of 77,2% (StatsSA 2015 GHS report, released in June 2016). • Correlation with the number of households that are involved in agriculture • Contribution of Fetsa-tlala programme to some extent.
Cont ... The province targeted at least 13 006 hectares to be under production for the financial year 2017/18. LDARD provide mechanization support services to the farmers through government tractors and private tractors services. Private tractor services to augment government tractors, as and when the need arises Fetsa-Tlala Standard Operating Procedure was reviewed – to close some implementation gaps
Previous year’s Performance 2016/17 Provincial target was 10 000ha Actual achievement is 12 429ha Overachievement resulted from adequate rains, albeit late, received in certain parts of the province.
Seasonal Forecast - National Agro-meteorological Committee (NAC) Advisory on October2017 spring and summer season Wetter conditions expected from late spring and early summer. From October to December, above normal rainfall is predicted in Vhembe, Mopani and some parts of Waterberg. From November 2017 to January 2018 there is a likelihood of above normal rainfall for the entire province.
State of mechanisation(Government tractors The department has a total of 72 tractors distributed to districts as per table below.
State of mechanisation(Government tractors with related implements Tractors have been repaired and tractor drivers appointed . Fuel has been procured and stored at local agricultural offices and service centres
State of mechanisation(Private tractors Normal procurement processes will be followed to procure private tractors and specification has been development. Procurement processes are underway and appointment is planned for end of October 2017.
State of Readiness • The summer planting season for the financial year 2017/18 is planned as per table below despite the predictions of below average rainfall.
Challenges • Procurement processes to repair government tractors. • More applications than the available resources.
Conclusion LDARD is ready to rollout mechanisation support service as part of Fetsa Tlala food production initiative with a hope that there will be sufficient summer rainfall.
Recommendation It is recommended that the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries notes the report on the state of readiness for 2017/18 planting season.
