Today’s (17 October 2017) discussions in the Select Committee on Appropriations focussed on the progress on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) conditional grants. The Committee was briefed by both the National Treasury and the department on progress and challenges with the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme Grant (Casp), the Ilima/Letsema Projects Grant, and the Land Care Programme Grant: Poverty Relief and Infrastructure Development.
The National Treasury’s presentation highlighted that the transfer of funds to provinces from all three grants does not correspond with the activities and cash flow requirements in provincial business plans. This means that there are significant unspent funds in provincial bank accounts. To address this issue, the department was encouraged to ensure the alignment of cash flows with business plans, and to ensure that spending takes place across all four quarters and not just during the final two quarters of the financial year.
Underspending and rollovers remain a significant challenge in all provinces. Average spending in the first quarter of the financial year over the past three years is CASP 11%, Ilima/Letsema 8% and Landcare 6%. Drought was noted to negatively affect performance, while provincial departments also deal with procurement delays and staffing challenges, which affect the implementation of the departments’ business plan.
DAFF officials, under the leadership of Minister Mr Senzeni Zokwana, acknowledged the challenges relating to the grants, hence the department’s decision to focus its attention on enhancing monitoring capacity, as recommend. This was also recommended by the National Treasury, to identify weaknesses and support service delivery in provinces.
Officials also highlighted a number of achievements made through the three grants. These include, firstly, 31 945 farmers supported with fencing, boreholes and irrigation systems through Casp since 2010/11. Secondly, 70 927 farmers supported with inputs for production of maize and vegetables through the Ilima/Letsema grant since 2010/11. While the Landcare programme focused on soil, veld and water care, the department reported that the current allocation of R74 million is insufficient to address the challenges faced by farmers in terms of Land Care.
The Committee, while noting the challenge, said that it is pleased with the department’s decision to enhance its capacity to monitor provincial departments and related entities. The Committee, while scrutinising the progress of the three grants, highlighted the importance of these not only in ensuring food security, but also the sustainable use of natural resources. Officials were encouraged to work with their counterparts in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to enhance service delivery across departments.
Felicia Lombard
17 October 2017
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