1. UPDATE ON DROUGHT INTERVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND SANITATION
1 MARCH 2017
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

2. General views on current drought Drought adaptation plans Way-forward
PRESENTATION LAYOUT
Purpose
Introduction
Weather outlook
Sector interventions
General views on current drought
Drought adaptation plans
Way-forward
Recommendations
South Africa is generally regarded as a “low forest cover” country. However wooded vegetation covers more than a third of the countries land surface area.

3. PURPOSE
To provide an update to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation sitting jointly with the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the implementation of drought interventions and strategies as well as the dispersal of drought relief to farmers

4. INTRODUCTION
Progress on intervention has been made in various parts of the country by the different spheres of government including the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries.
Continued collaborations are forged in the implementation of response and intervention measures to ensure integration and maximization of available resources.
The livestock mortality continued to be experienced before the good rains received since January 2017.
In enhancing risk management and strengthening adaptive capacity, the animal production still emphasise on the broad programme such as Animal Improvement Scheme and proposed National Rangeland Monitoring and Improvement Programme (NRMIP) as once implemented by DAFF.
Plant production focused on seed security matters to improve farmer access to good quality seed of appropriate varieties through community seed multiplication schemes.

5. WEATHER OUTLOOK
Following the recent rains, level of major dams improved in most provinces but water restrictions remain in place.
Observations show that ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) is gradually making its way from a cool to a warm phase. It is, however, still expected to remain within the neutral phase for the first half of Forecasting systems currently indicate an increased likelihood of an El Nino phase to be in effect towards the spring season. However there is a lot of uncertainty whether and when it will occur. The months leading up to spring should provide more reliable forecasts for this system.

6. WEATHER OUTLOOK
The seasonal forecast for March to July 2017 shows chances for above-normal rainfall for summer rainfall areas during early autumn albeit isolated and not widespread.
The forecast show a tendency of above-normal temperatures with an increasing uncertainty. Temperatures drop towards winter across the country and the expected conditions should be used accordingly.

7. SAWS 2017-SEASONAL FORECAST MARCH – JULY 2017
The forecasting system indicates a significant amount of mixed forecasts across the country. As it is expected that there should be favourable rainfall conditions for the summer rainfall regions, isolated rather than widespread rainfall is likely for the early parts of autumn.

8. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
Following an additional amount of R1 billion requested for further drought assistance, National Treasury made an amount of R212 million to assist affected farmers across the country through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
This amount came about as a result of the verification process undertaken by the NDMC and was allocated as an indirect grant to DAFF.
The provincial departments submitted the necessary documents prior to the actual implementation (beneficiary lists and distribution points)
The responsibility of DAFF was thus mainly appointment of Service Providers, procurement and monitoring.
DAFF worked on the farmer register provided by the province to obtain quotations and do the entire procurement process as well as during the distributions.

9. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
DAFF arranged meetings with provinces prior implementation to introduce Service Providers to the implementing teams and discuss the roll out and schedules.
DAFF then deployed personnel to various provinces to work with the provinces on implementation, thus receiving feed, quality and quantity assurance, as well as distributions.
Provinces mobilises the farmers and ensure that the relevant beneficiaries receives feeds as per provincial farmer register.
Currently implementation is still underway.

10. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
PROVINCE
ALLOCATION
EXPENDITURE
BALANCE/COMMITMENT
% ON EXPENDITURE
PROGRESS
Free State R R R
74.05%
75 635x 50kg bags delivered to date. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.
KwaZulu-Natal R R R
50.69%
16470 x 50kg bags of drought pellets delivered to date. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.

11. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
PROVINCE
ALLOCATION
EXPENDITURE
BALANCE /
COMMITMENT
PERCENTAGE ON EXPENDITURE
PROGRESS
Limpopo R R R
13.52%
x 50kg bags to date. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage. Two previous service providers’ contracts were terminated due to poor performance. Newly appointed service Providers commenced on 06 February 2017 and there is a good progress already.
Mpumalanga R R R
80.97%
Deliveries complete subject to verification. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.
North West R R R
62.23%
x50kg bags drought pellets delivered to date. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.

12. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
PROVINCE
ALLOCATION
EXPENDITURE
BALANCE/
COMMITMENT
PERCENTAGE ON EXPENDITURE
PROGRESS
Northern Cape R
R 0.00
0.00%
The Province has requested to implement through the voucher system. DAFF led by CFO met with the province to resolve the implementation issues. Both parties agreed to allow DAFF to follow similar process taken in other provinces. Currently CFO has sent out orders for quotations for supply and transport of feed.
Eastern Cape R R R
88.23%
Deliveries complete subject to verification. Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.

13. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
PROVINCE
ALLOCATION
EXPENDITURE
BALANCE/
COMMITMENT
PERCENTAGE ON EXPENDITURE
PROGRESS
Western Cape R R -R
104.75%
Deliveries complete; Distributions in progress hence number of farmers who benefitted cannot be provided at this stage.
Total R R R
57.20%

14. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
BOREHOLES COMPLETED FROM THE DROUGHT SCHEME AND DAFF PMDR ALLOCATIONS
Summary of completed and functioning Boreholes (2015/16)
PROVINCE
BOREHOLES EQUIPPED
FUNDED THROUGH
FUNCTIONAL
COST FOR EQUIPPING/REPAIRING
North West 23
PMDR R
Mpumalanga 7 R
Limpopo 60
Drought scheme R
Free State 35
PMDR (31) Drought scheme (4) R
Gauteng 20 R
KwaZulu-Natal 59 50 R
TOTAL
204 66 R

15. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
Summary of completed and functioning Boreholes (2016/17)
PROVINCE
BOREHOLES EQUIPPED
FUNDED THROUGH
FUNCTIONAL
North West 16
PMDR
Currently being equipped
Limpopo 10
TOTAL 26

16. GENERAL VIEWS ON CURRENT DROUGHT
Dry land farmers planted crops as the result of good rains received throughout the country.
Irrigation farmers are relieved as most dams have improved, but water restrictions are still in place.
Livestock condition in some provinces is improving but fencing is still a challenge in communal setting.
Grazing is improving in most provinces after some good rains received.
Food prices increased throughout the country with rural communities affected badly.

17. DROUGHT ADAPTATION PLANS
DAFF issues out the drought adaptation plans as follows:
Management of Pests and Diseases.
Livestock Management is very important (e.g. Drought feeding Strategies and Livestock marketing).
Water Use Management still important.
Proper veld management practices to preserve agricultural resources.

18. WAY-FOWARD
Farmers are still advised to be conservative in their planning as the country is not out of drought yet.
Livestock farmers are advised to keep stock number in line with the available grazing so as to prevent overstocking/overgrazing.
Farmers are encouraged to implement measures provided in the early warning information issued.
Programmes to conserve the natural resources are encouraged.

19. RECOMMENDATION
Portfolio Committee to note update on implementation of drought interventions and strategies by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

20. Thank you!!!