Agriculture is the second most important economic sector after mining in South Africa's Northern Cape province. It is the backbone of rural economies of the province.  That is why agriculture needs to be protected. This is according to Mase Manopole, newly appointed MEC of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in the province, who said in her budget speech the department therefor has various farmer support programmes aimed at assisting small scale farmers to enter the commercial farming industry and be sustainable. Manopole, previously MEC of Health in the Northern Cape, says transformation is therefore required. OFM News' Christal-Lize Mulelr spoke to her...

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She says the department has been allocated an amount of R559.9 million, which includes allocations from conditional grants amounting to R195.684 million. This is an increase of 3.9 percent when compared to the previous financial year.  

Manopole says a total budget of R242.3 million in the 2020/21 financial year has been allocated to farmer support and development and this programme has the largest allocation of the department with 43% of all available funds. This programme has the budget allocations of the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Ilima/Letsema Projects conditional grants. The CASP grant has an allocation of R122.9 million while the Ilima grant has an allocation of R61.6 million.

Included in the CASP grant is a ring-fenced allocation of R24.740 million that enables the department to deepen Extension Services in the province.

Her vision for the Northern Cape is also to create a modern, successful and growing province which can be achieved by modernising economic activities including agriculture. This will drive the sector and province to success. Economics growth is very important because a successful economy is an inclusive economy and therefore smallholder farmers must be assisted to participate in the mainstream economy. Increased participation of smallholder operators will contribute to the transformation of the sector, says Manopole. Job creation is needed. 

With regards to drought relief Manopole refers to the national department of agriculture's Covid-19-disaster relief for farmers allocated for land reform but it has been reallocated to Covid-19-relief for small scale farmers mostly. She says the department is aware of some challenges, with applicants that were not successful in their applications. 

According to her governments drought relief to the Northern Cape has been paid out and progress are being made with regards to the R36 million in this regard.

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