Chairperson, the DA does not support the budget of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The aim of this department is to lead, support and promote agriculture, forestry and fisheries' resource management through policies, strategies and programmes, to enhance sustainable use, and to achieve economic growth, job creation, food security, rural development and transformation.
Because of the dismal failure of the department to put in place proper policies and programmes to protect and manage animal health, veld fires and plant health, research and everything else in this department, the growth of the sector is not secured. That might be the reason why this sector's share of the gross domestic product, GDP, is decreasing. The National Development Plan, NDP, proposes that one million much-needed jobs could be created in this department, but without a proper plan, this will not happen. Thank you.