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Over 15% of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (GDARD) budget for 2025/2026 has been earmarked to promote animal health.
This came to light on Sunday when details of GDARD’s budget were shared. The department’s total allocation for the coming year is R671,1 million, of which Veterinary Services has been allocated R104 million. The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, told members of the media on Sunday that the budget will be used to strengthen internal capacity.
Infrastructure is another focus area. A total of R111,615 million has been earmarked to build infrastructure, develop skills, and enhance resilience among small-scale producers, Ramokgopa said. This money will be distributed through the province’s Conditional Agricultural Support Programme.
Read more about the National Agriculture Budget.
Smallholder focus
To support local producers, the department has set aside R12 million for ‘Made in Gauteng’ farmers’ markets and digital sales platforms, giving small producers direct access to buyers.
Ramokgopa said nearly 4,5 million Gauteng residents live below the poverty line. To combat food insecurity, her department has committed to reducing poverty by 10% in the medium term. “We will get there by scaling up backyard and community farming, partnering with NGOs and the private sector to reduce food waste, and redirecting surplus food to households in need.” To support this initiative, R41 million has been allocated to the Ilima/Letsema Programme which supports subsistence farmers.
The department will also allocate R23,8 million to end hunger and build household food security, commercialise smallholder farmers, revitalise agro-industries, create sustainable jobs, embrace innovation, and prioritize rural development. Furthermore, R15 million has been allocated to expand Agri-Parks critical platforms that help farmers aggregate produce, access markets, and scale sustainably.
“Our partnership with the South African Poultry Association (Sapa) led to Gauteng’s first egg aggregation and packing station – over 12 million eggs processed, benefiting 25 smallholder farmers. This is the kind of tangible impact I want to replicate across the province.”
Environmental budget
The Gauteng MEC for Environment, Ewan Botha, also presented his department’s R679,4 million budget for the 2025/26 financial year on Sunday. The department aims to accelerate service delivery, environmental justice, compliance and enforcement, and build partnerships that make sustainable development a reality.
To achieve this, the department has allocated R353,3 million for personnel and strengthening departmental capacity. A total of R498,7 million will go towards inclusive economic growth and job creation. Additionally, R9,3 million will be allocated through the Expanded Public Works Programme integrated grant, creating short-term green jobs for women and youth in various programmes. These initiatives include recycling, greening, and park maintenance.
Another R78,3 million is earmarked for flagship heritage sites such as the Cradle of Humankind and Dinokeng Game Reserve to enhance tourism. Furthermore, R50 million has been allocated to clean 18 central business districts under the G20 Green Cities Initiative.
Approximately R10 million will fund a feasibility study into Gauteng’s first integrated eco-park waste facility, R3,5 million has been allocated for buy-back centre infrastructure supporting township recyclers, R2,9 million to implement waste minimisation regulations and promote separation at source, and R2,5 million for reviewing the province’s integrated waste management plan.
A total of R8 million has been allocated to the Gauteng climate change response strategy and the annual Climate Indaba. Additionally, R11,9 million has been earmarked to streamline environmental impact assessment approvals aiming to reduce bureaucracy and improve turnaround times. – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
