Chairperson, regarding the Minister's response to question 1(a), I would, firstly, like to ask the hon the Minister what the role of the National Agricultural Marketing Council is.
Secondly, arising further from the hon the Minister's reply to 1(b), there are commodities which are being imported from countries which are highly subsidised. Yet, there are no import tariffs and our emergent sector needs to be protected against cheap imports.
What measures do the hon the Minister's department and other departments have in place? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, I would like to thank the hon Phaliso for the question.
The Agricultural Marketing Council assists the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in ensuring that all sectors in the industry, as well as all commodity sectors, have access to equitable shares in the agricultural marketing sector. The department has been working quite closely with the Agricultural Marketing Council to ensure that historically disadvantaged farmers or black farmers have equal access to markets.
However, we are compromised by countries which are highly subsidising their agricultural products. As I have previously expressed, we are working with the Department of Trade and Industry in our application of trade policy on all agricultural products. Thank you.