MEC Khethiwe Moeketsi.
The MEC for Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) Khethiwe Moeketsi, delivered the budget for the 2025/2026 financial year on Tuesday July 22.
Moeketsi, presented to all relevant government role players, it aligned with Premier Mandla Ndlovu’s State of the Province Address; focussing on rural and marginalised people’s needs and would see a new agri era across the province.
Moeketsi highlighted how DARDLEA turned challenges into opportunities, aligning with the 7th Administration’s Strategic Priorities – inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction:
Creation of a trading platform and securing partnerships with Oman and China, providing farmers with access to global supply chains;
30 “Food Market Squares” piloted in 30 wards with 1,600 SMMEs to benefit;
The Mkhuhlu AgriHub, with 101 smallholder farmers, supplies 32 hospitals and six boarding schools, while the Mkhondo AgriHub, provides fresh produce across the Gert Sibande District;
The Mpumalanga Agro-Fund, R400 million finance partnership with the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), Land Bank and Santam Insurance, driving and insuring the province’s agri development;
Publication of Mpumalanga’s Nutrition Sourcing Bill;
Agri-Park in Secunda;
Female and youth focussed Inkanyezi Poultry Project at CALM and activation of Eggsellent by Lebo at Hani Municipality (HM);
The Nkangala Grain Corridor, supporting HM grain farmers and the Bakgatla Co-op in the Dr JS Moroka Moroka Municipality;
Revival of the Senteeko Tea Estate in the City of Mbombela;
Bushbuckridge Local Municipality farmer support;
Phezukomkhono Mlimi Programme for food security;
The Masibuyel’ Esibayeni Initiative – providing livestock for 66 projects, benefitting 512 farmers;
Boosting soil labs and Geographic Information System (GIS), supporting precision agriculture;
Mentorship and accredited training empowering youth, women and people with disabilities to become agri-preneurs.
Continuous farmer training in South African Good Agricultural Practices (SAGAP) and Hazard Analysis Critical and Control Point (HACCP) certification for food safety and
Protect the environment.
These are expected to create1,200 new agro-processing jobs by 2027, focus investment across key value chains and provide support to strategic zones. Especially women and youth would be targeted.
It would support 13,000 households, establish 690 food gardens and cultivate 18,000 hectares of land. DARDLEA is also actively fighting Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and recruited 22 new Veterinary graduates and deployed additional Animal Health Technicians to high-risk areas.
The total budget of R1, 615,634,000 (One billion, six hundred fifteen million, six hundred thirty-four thousand Rand) are allocated among nine programmes:
Administration – R217, 837,000
Sustainable Resource Management – R76, 546,000
Agricultural Producer Support and Development – R712, 289,000
Veterinary Services – R155, 705,000
Research and Technology Development – R73, 040,000
Agricultural Economics Services – R29, 698,000
Agricultural Education and Training – R30, 437,000
Rural Development Coordination – R25, 883,000
Environmental Affairs – R164, 769,000
