This is according to the MEC for Agriculture, Desbo Mohono, during her budget speech at the Provincial Legislature. 

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She says this is because the sector is losing more hectares of good quality soil because of soil erosion and industrialisation. Mohono has told Members of the Provincial Legislature that the department does not have a budget for disaster mitigation and it has shifted its focus on amplifying an awareness campaign using all communication channels.

Mohono tabled her budget of R1,164 billion for the 2021/22 financial year and allocated millions of rands to eight programmes within her department. The Farmers Support and Development Programme was allocated R436 million and she announced that the annual non-financial performance of the department is 87% - which is 34 out of 39 for targeted output - and the financial performance is 82%.

She also announced that the North West natural resources endowments are negatively affected and prone to a natural disaster, exacerbated by competing industries like mining.

“Honourable members, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, section 27(1)(b), states that everyone has the right to sufficient food and water. This right requires that food be available, accessible, and adequate for everyone without discrimination. Food security is faced with challenges like an inadequate food safety net and food emergency management system, and inadequate access to resources in order to make optimal choices for nutrition and safe diets,” she added.

Mohono further added that in its endeavour to improve the provincial status of food and nutrition security, the North West Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will, through its conditional grant, assist 210 farmers across the province to plant 13 500 hectares of land.

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