Chairperson, Minister, the budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture is less than 1% of the total national budget. The allocation of R2,79 billion for 2009-10 is less than the previous financial year's allocation of R2,95 billion.
The UCDP is concerned about how this department will reach its objective of service delivery using this limited budget given that agriculture is the backbone of most countries' economies, including South Africa's. How will the department ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutrious food; eliminate skewed participation and inequity in agriculture; maximise growth, employment and income in agriculture; improve the sustainable management of natural agricultural resources and ecological systems; and ensure effective and sufficient governance as well as information management?
Rural development has emerged as one of government's top priorities in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. In his state of the nation address, the President made it clear that intervention in the second economy would include support for small and micro enterprises and rural development initiatives. The Minister of Finance highlighted the fact that increasing agricultural output, raising rural incomes and supporting small- scale farmers were key objectives of the rural development strategy.
The rapid rise of food prices experienced in the past year has threatened food security in the country and necessitated initiatives to protect the vulnerable from high food prices. We doubt if this budget will reach this objective. [Time expired.]