7. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
7.4 PROGRAMME 4: VETERINARY SERVICES
Programme Purpose
To provide veterinary services to clients in order to ensure healthy animals, safe animal products and welfare of people of South Africa.
7.4.1 Strategic Objective
Strategic Objective Safe and tradable animals and animal products produced
Objective Statement To ensure control of animal diseases for 4,5 million animals; inspection of 87 abattoirs through veterinary services to clients in order to ensure healthy animals, safe animal products and welfare of the people of South Africa by facilitating and providing animal health services in order to protect the animal and human population against identified zoonotic diseases of economic importance, and primary animal health and welfare programmes/ projects to allow for exports of animals and animal products by 2020
Baseline 2.5 million animals 84 Abattoirs inspected
7.4.2 Resource Considerations a. Financial resources
Budget allocation is required for key inputs. There is a need for adequate financial provision for the two main cost drivers of the programme i.e. vaccination and dipping.
The two are preventative programmes which if followed properly will keep disease occurrence to the minimum and assist in dealing with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
b. Physical Resources
Working tools (subsidized vehicles for technicians, internet connectivity and ICT tools, e.g. cell phones, laptops and printers).
c. Human Resources
To retain the current scarce skills as well as recruitment in the field of veterinary services the Department will need to have effective human resources strategies.
d. Systems and Infrastructure requirements
More animal handling facilities are required in order to render effective veterinary service
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7.4.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Safe and tradable
animals and animal products produced
Outbreak of diseases
Skills shortage
• Continuous disease surveillance
• Head-hunting, retention strategy, Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD), Bursary scheme and financial assistance for studies with service obligation contracts
7.5 PROGRAMME 5: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOMENT SERVICES Programme Purpose
To provide expert and needs based research, development and technology transfer services impacting on development objectives.
7.5.1 Strategic Objective
Strategic
Objective Optimised provisioning of expert and needs based research
Objective
Statement To ensure that 122 medium to long term research and technology development projects are conducted, facilitated and coordinated to contribute to improved agricultural production by 2020
Baseline 55 research projects
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7.5.2 Resource Considerations a. Financial resources
Budget for compensation of employees, operations and capital.
b. Physical Resources
The two research stations have been identified as the centres for Indigenous Livestock Genetic Conservation (ILGC) and production of planted pastures. Most of the infrastructure such as fences, cattle handling facilities, water reticulation system and electricity remain a challenge. The housing for farm workers are at a point of inhabitation according to health and safety standards.
c. Human Resources
The directorate is reasonably staffed with scientists and technicians. There is however a need to address the staff shortage on the farms, especially on farm workers in response to retirements and deaths.
d. Systems and Infrastructure requirements
IT connectivity at the stations remains a challenge Need to upgrade the following infrastructure:
o Irrigation o Storage sheds o Fencing
o Laboratory
o Office and accommodation o Ablution facilities
o Abattoir facility 7.5.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Optimised expert
Construction of security fence Provision of security
Amicable settlement of Land claims
Drilling of additional boreholes Water encatchments
Collaborate research work with other research institutions
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7.5.2 Resource Considerations a. Financial resources
Budget for compensation of employees, operations and capital.
b. Physical Resources
The two research stations have been identified as the centres for Indigenous Livestock Genetic Conservation (ILGC) and production of planted pastures. Most of the infrastructure such as fences, cattle handling facilities, water reticulation system and electricity remain a challenge. The housing for farm workers are at a point of inhabitation according to health and safety standards.
c. Human Resources
The directorate is reasonably staffed with scientists and technicians. There is however a need to address the staff shortage on the farms, especially on farm workers in response to retirements and deaths.
d. Systems and Infrastructure requirements
IT connectivity at the stations remains a challenge Need to upgrade the following infrastructure:
o Irrigation o Storage sheds o Fencing
o Laboratory
o Office and accommodation o Ablution facilities
o Abattoir facility 7.5.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Optimised expert
Construction of security fence Provision of security
Amicable settlement of Land claims
Drilling of additional boreholes Water encatchments
Collaborate research work with other research institutions
7.6 PROGRAMME 6: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS SERVICES Programme Purpose
To provide timely and relevant agricultural economic services to the sector in support of sustainable agricultural and agri-business development to increase economic growth.
7.6.1 Strategic Objective
Strategic Objective Improved competitiveness and sustainability of agribusinesses
Objective Statement To provide agribusiness development support services to 29 000 agribusinesses (farmers/cooperatives) by 2020 through entrepreneurial development, marketing services, value adding, production and resource economics
Baseline 29 598 agribusinesses were supported
7.6.2 Resource Considerations a. Financial resources
The Programme is adequately resourced.
b. Human resources
The Programme is adequately resourced.
c. Systems and infrastructure requirement.
To put up systems in order to provide timely and reliable information to both internal and external clients.
7.6.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic
Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Improved
competitiveness and sustainability of agribusinesses
Reduced margins of farmers due to rising input costs
Limited participation of emerging farmers in farming business due to lack of access to agricultural finance
Establishment of cooperatives to encourage cooperative actions such as bulk
procurement to reduce costs Facilitate access to
government mandated development finance programs such as MAFISA and Land Bank Retail Emerging Markets
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7.7 PROGRAMME 7: STRUCTURED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING Programme Purpose
To facilitate and provide structured agricultural education and training in line with the Agriculture Education and Training Strategy to all participants in the agricultural sector in order to establish a knowledgeable, prosperous and competitive sector.
7.7.1 Strategic Objective
Strategic Objective Enhanced facilitation and provision of structured agricultural education and training
Objective
Statement To provide non-formal and formal training to 6 400 learners on NQF levels 1-4 through FET structured education and training programmes by 2020
Baseline 5 562 learners, students and farmers
7.7.2 Resource Considerations a. Financial resources
Training affordability by Diploma students. Increased financial resources to have bursaries available for qualifying students. The Department has a multiyear plan for infrastructure upgrade, which will need continued funding.
b. Physical resources
Inadequate training infrastructure. There is still a need for internet connectivity, class rooms, accommodation, access roads and infrastructure practical lessons.
c. Human resources
The Department has aging staff and most of the support staff is retiring. Staff turnover is also a challenge due attraction by other industries and other competing colleges in neighbouring provinces.
Organisational Structure of the colleges to be aligned in accordance with the education national norms and standards.
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7.7.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic
Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Enhanced
Improved condition of service improved training infrastructure Maintenance of boundary fence
maintenance of fire belts
7.8 PROGRAMME 8: RURAL DEVELOPMENT Programme Purpose
The purpose of the programme is to facilitate and coordinate the planning and implementation of integrated rural development program in line with LEGDP, CRDP, IDP and Limpopo Rural Development Strategy. The program will work with all key stakeholders in order to ensure that government and its social partners delivers a sustainable and efficient rural development services to all rural communities.
7.8.1 Strategic Objective Strategic
Objective Improved coordination of rural development programme for the integration of the rural areas
Objective
Statement Coordination of 109 CRDP sites through successful infrastructure development, job creation and poverty alleviation to ensure access to basic infrastructure and rural livelihood creation by 2020
Baseline 54 CRDP sites
7.8.2 Resource Considerations
a. Financial resources
Budget for coordination activities.
b. Physical Resources
Working tools (transport for field staff, internet connectivity and ICT tools).
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c. Human Resources
Human resource required to establish a resourced Rural Development Secretariat in line with the LIRDS for effective coordination of strategy implementation.
7.8.3 Risk Considerations
Strategic Objective Risk Mitigating Intervention Improved
• Rural development statutory framework provided for in the Intergovernmental
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PART C: LINKS TO OTHER PLANS
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8. LINKS TO THE LONG-TERM INFRASTRURE AND OTHER CAPITAL PLANS
The factors influencing the LDA’s inability to deliver on the infrastructure plan can be reflected as follows:
Changing of readiness of projects due to erratic weather conditions (e.g. Rainfall and water availability); and
Changing of readiness of projects due to social conditions (e.g. Conflicts among targeted beneficiaries, vandalism of infrastructure).
In response to the provincial government priority on agro-processing and value adding, the LDA has identified the following infrastructure development projects over the MTSF period, to support agricultural development throughout the value chain:
PROJECT TARGET FOR 2015/16 – 2019/20 LOCATION OF
PROJECT Masalal packhouse Refurbishment of Masalal citrus and
mango pack house facility Mopani District (Letsitele) Nwanedi
Cooperative Establishment of a vegetable pack
house facility Vhembe District
(Musina) Bee Honey
processing infrastructure
Development of a processing facility
for honey bee producers in Limpopo Vhembe and Mopani Districts Lebowakgomo
Abattoir Renovation of poultry houses around Sekhukhune and Capricorn to feed into the Abattoir
Sekhukhune and Capricorn Districts Valley Farms Upgrading of Valley farms, an
existing fruit juice and drying facility that belonging to the Levhubu land claimant communities
Vhembe District (Levhubu)
Tshakhuma Achar
Factory Establishment of Atchar facility for
mangos and vegetable farmers Vhembe (Tshakhuma Village
Moletji Dairy 1 processing facility and 13 villages Moletji Moshate and 13 villages Soil Conservation
works 8313 Hectares Ga Kgatla
Blouberg Leolo Greater Tubatse
Fencing Provision of fencing All municipalities Feedlot and animal
feed mills facilities Support the establishment of feedlot and feed mills around Waterberg District
Waterberg District
Irrigation Schemes 6 Irrigation Schemes Sekhukhune District Capricorn District Vhembe District
41 9. CONDITIONAL GRANTS
The status with regard to the below mentioned conditional grants remains the same, there are no changes and all grants are on continuing over the period of this Strategic Plan.
Name of grant Landcare
Purpose To ensure sustainable use and management of natural resources to ensure greater productivity, food security and job creation
Performance
indicator Participation, empowerment and conservation of resources in the number of area wide planned projects
Continuation The grant will continue as gazetted in the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) through a call for business plans
Motivation Challenges of degradation in the communal and land reform projects are huge and will require continued efforts. Mitigation and adaptation of impacts of climate change is appropriate under this program. MTSF priority of sustainable resource management and rural development are realized through this program
Name of Grant Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
Purpose To incentivise provincial Departments to increase job creation efforts in environment and culture programmes through the use of labour intensive methods and the expansion of job creation in line with the EPWP guidelines Performance
Indicator Number of job opportunities created through labour intensive construction methods
Continuation The eligibility for continuous funding is performance base for every/ for each public body
Motivation The incentive is paid to encourage work creation. The incentive is paid per quarter of employment for the EPWP group and can be measured in a person’s day of work or full time equivalent. The intention of the incentive is to increase work efforts by public bodies by providing a financial performance reward
Name of Grant Ilima-Letsema
Purpose To support food production and ensure that resource poor farmers are assisted to participate competitively in agricultural production
Performance
indicator Number of projects provided with production inputs and access to technical advisory support
Continuation The grant funding will continue through the Strategic Plan period
Motivation The grant provides for farmers who lack access to credit to be assisted to access agricultural production inputs. The inputs are necessary to increase agricultural production and hence to improve household and national food security. Jobs are sustained and new ones created when farm enterprises are made operational, and this requires provision of the production inputs
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Name of Grant Extension Recovery Program (sub-program currently included in the CASP budget)
Purpose To support provincial efforts to improve the delivery capacity of Extension Officers in order to facilitate comprehensive technical and advisory support to agricultural projects – with a specific focus on the previously disadvantaged farmers and land reform projects
Performance
Indicator Number of Extension Officers recruited and adequately trained as well as having all necessary physical and intellectual tools to support farmers in an effort to increase food production
Continuation The grant funding will continue through the Strategic Plan period
Motivation There is still an acute shortage of Extension Officers with the necessary skills and resources to support the previously disadvantaged farmers and enable them to cope in a technologically advanced and globalised sector
10. PUBLIC ENTITIES
The Department does not currently have a Public Entity.
The November 2013 Executive Council Decision 69 of 2013/14 rescinded EXCO Decision 156 of 2010, which approved the incorporation of the Limpopo Agricultural Development Corporation (LADC) into Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and that LADC be registered as a separate entity with its assets, liabilities and employees that were transferred to LEDA restored. EXCO further approved that LADC commence its operations with effect from the 1st April 2014 as an entity of LDA.
Based, on the advice by the National Treasury and subsequent analysis by LDA in relation to the implementation of the EXCO resolution, the Executive Council of 21 January 2015 approved withdrawal of EXCO Decision No. 69 of 2013/14 on the establishment of a public entity to manage Agribusiness functions in the Province and that the Agribusiness functions should be retained within the LEDA and that LEDA should continue to support the LDA on Agribusiness-related matters.
11. PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS None
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