The MEC also announced that R1.2 billion has been allocated to the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development during this financial year. 

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The allocated amount is expected to grow to R1.3 billion in the last year of the Medium-Term Budget Framework (MTBR).

Rosho further said that the amount includes an allocation of R224 million for the Ilima/Letsema projects, as well as R185 million in 2022/23 for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Project.

Furthermore, to ensure sustainable development and management of agricultural resources through the provision of agricultural support services to farmers - including Kgora - an amount of R216 million was allocated.

Rosho first highlighted the province’s GDP numbers which were affected by the coronavirus pandemic, however, agriculture in the province showed growth.

“IHS Markit released the North West GDP data estimates which show that the provincial economy declined by six percent in 2020. Most of the economic sectors were negatively affected with only agriculture registering a 10.9 percent growth whilst the rest declined for the same period.”

The department of agriculture is part of a cluster of various provincial departments that have been allocated money for job creation, and the upgrading of roads, amongst others, in the North West.

“The economic cluster focuses on stimulating economic growth, job creation, providing sustainable food security, provision of quality provincial infrastructure, development of new roads, reconstruction, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads infrastructure."

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