Parliament, Wednesday, 10 June 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has flagged persistent implementation gaps in agricultural transformation programmes and expressed concern over ongoing challenges in the national response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
The committee reaffirmed that while policy frameworks, coordination mechanisms and strategic plans remain important, they must translate into measurable impact, improved livelihoods and meaningful inclusion for farmers and rural communities.
The committee engaged with the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) on progress in implementing the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAMP) and also received an update from the Department of Agriculture on the FMD outbreak situation, vaccination rollout and diagnostic capacity expansion.
Members emphasised that despite notable interventions and reported achievements, the sector continues to experience structural constraints that limit transformation and equitable participation. In its consideration of the AAMP, the committee noted progress in establishing value chain implementation platforms, advancing regulatory reforms, expanding market access and strengthening partnerships across public and private stakeholders.
Members also welcomed efforts to provincialise the Master Plan to enhance implementation at operational level and improve responsiveness to local conditions. The committee further noted reported achievements, including the mobilisation of R6.3 billion in private sector investment through the Land Reform and Agricultural Development Support Programme, supporting 627 black farming enterprises and contributing to approximately 19 000 jobs. The agricultural sector’s export performance of R270 billion was also recognised as an indicator of resilience and continued growth.
Members emphasised that transformation cannot be measured solely through aggregated outputs, structures or participation figures. The committee reiterated the need for clear evidence of ownership, control and sustained participation of black producers, women, youth and persons with disabilities within agricultural value chains. It further emphasised that reporting must increasingly demonstrate outcomes rather than activities.
The committee also raised serious concerns about implementation gaps identified during oversight visits across provinces. These include continued infrastructure deficiencies, limited market access for smallholder farmers, weak integration of emerging farmers into commercial value chains, and delays in operationalising key value chain roundtables. Members also highlighted the need for a dedicated agro-processing implementation platform with defined targets, timelines and accountability mechanisms.
Weak coordination between spheres of government and insufficient monitoring of key support programmes, including CASP and blended finance, were also identified as constraints requiring urgent attention. The committee emphasised that transformation must move beyond participation towards ownership, control and sustainable inclusion in value chains.
Regarding the national FMD situation, the committee expressed concern about the continued spread of outbreaks across several provinces. In the North West province, 112 cumulative cases were reported in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. In the Northern Cape, confirmed cases rose sharply from four to 15, with 55 clinical cases recorded.
KwaZulu-Natal reported a new case in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, while the Western Cape confirmed a new case in the George area and detected old lesions, requiring intensified surveillance. Mpumalanga also reported a new case in Mbombela, linked to suspected animal movement from Limpopo. The committee said these developments highlight the need for sustained surveillance, stronger movement control and a coordinated national response.
The committee acknowledged progress in the procurement and distribution of vaccines, with a total of 13.5 million doses ordered from international suppliers, including Biogenesis Bago in Argentina and Dollvet in Turkey. Significant volumes have already been received and distributed across provinces and industry sectors, including feedlots, dairy, pork and stud industries. Approximately 70 percent of allocated vaccines have been used nationally, although uptake remains uneven across provinces and farming categories.
Members expressed concern regarding disparities in access, particularly for communal and smallholder livestock farmers. The committee also noted the allocation of vaccines across provinces based on risk profiles and operational needs, as well as additional emergency allocations and industry-specific distributions.
While some provinces have demonstrated strong uptake, others continue to experience lower utilisation rates, reflecting differences in implementation capacity and access to veterinary services. In relation to human resource capacity, the committee welcomed the deployment and recruitment of state veterinarians, animal health technicians and community animal health workers across provinces to support the vaccination campaign.
Committee members noted that recruitment and deployment remain uneven, with some provinces still finalising appointments or awaiting funding approvals. The committee emphasised that adequate human capacity is critical to ensuring effective vaccination coverage, disease control and outbreak containment.
The committee further considered progress on diagnostic capacity expansion, noting significant improvements in laboratory infrastructure and testing capability. Daily serology testing capacity has been increased to 2 200 samples, enabling up to 6 600 tests per day through SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3 testing protocols.
This expanded capacity is expected to clear existing backlogs by mid-June 2026. Additional laboratories in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape are being prepared to receive diagnostic samples, with biosafety and deactivation protocols being strengthened. Equipment upgrades, including PCR machines and serology systems, have been implemented, while further enhancements are underway to improve ELISA reagent production capacity.
The committee also noted ongoing strengthening of human resources at the Agricultural Research Council, including the recruitment and training of veterinary technologists, research assistants and administrative personnel to support creased diagnostic throughput. Equipment procurement and laboratory upgrades continue to advance to enhance both molecular and serological diagnostic capabilities.
Despite these interventions, committee members raised concerns over persistent implementation challenges, including delays in laboratory feedback, uneven vaccination coverage in communal areas, shortages of veterinary personnel in some provinces, and operational difficulties related to animal movement control and traceability systems. The committee also noted challenges facing farmers in complying with registration and vaccination requirements.
Importantly, the committee noted that a slide relating to the vaccination of communal livestock farmers had been omitted from the department’s presentation. Committee members requested that this information be formally submitted, emphasising that communal and smallholder livestock farmers remain among the most vulnerable groups and must be fully reflected in reporting.
The committee stressed the importance of transparent data on vaccination coverage, disease management interventions and support provided to these farmers.
In conclusion, the committee reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous oversight of agricultural transformation programmes and the national FMD response. It emphasised that success must ultimately be measured through improved food security, sustainable job creation, strengthened rural economies and meaningful transformation within agricultural value chains. Parliament will continue to monitor implementation closely and hold all stakeholders accountable for delivering on commitments made to the people of South Africa.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, MS DINA PULE.
For media enquiries, please contact committee Media Officer:
Mr Temba Gubula
Cell: 081 402 3531
Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
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