With the R46.7 million allocation for the present financial year, just more than a 1000 agricultural projects have been embarked upon. Over a 3-year period, R142 million will be utilised for this programme. As more projects are implemented over this period, many thousands more stand to benefit. The Department also has some very appropriate farming systems that, when fully implemented, will have far reaching beneficial effects.
Many community gardens have very acidic soils that result in reduced production.
Liming will remedy this problem and the benefits will include providing food to thousands of food-insecure people. The development of focus areas of the Department of Agriculture and the re-alignment of the functions and budget of the Department. The creation of the Agricultural and Industrial Marketing Committee Facilitating the start-up of an agricultural home industries empowerment drive. Continued identification of potential agricultural projects by Departmental staff in conjunction with the Department s clients. Collation of agricultural projects on a database - 800 projects have already been entered on the database.