Published in the Republic <strong>of</strong> South AfricaKZN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTCompiled by the Directorate: Monitoring and EvaluationPrivate Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, 3200Telephone: (033) 355 9547Facsimile: (033) 355 9582<strong>2011</strong>ISBN : ???????????????????
BY THE MECThe Honourable Mrs Lydia Johnson, MPLMEC: <strong>Agriculture</strong>, Environmental Affairs and Rural DevelopmentI have pleasure in presenting the <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Performance</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> <strong>2011</strong>/<strong>2012</strong> for the<strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Agriculture</strong>, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development.Besides being a policy requirement, the <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Performance</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> is atool whereby the <strong>Department</strong> details its key programmes and performanceinformation which will be implemented during the year. As we begin the newfinancial year, I have made it clear to the <strong>Department</strong> that the government mandate remains intactand unchanged.His Excellency, President Zuma and the Honourable Premier, have consistently emphasised thestrategic priority outcomes that we are expected to deliver during our term <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice. It must always beclear though, that the work <strong>of</strong> government is not about political terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice but about addressingidentified social problems that face our people on a daily basis. This is why it is important for everyoneto focus rather on the constant factors, which in this case are poverty, unemployment, food insecurity,disease and the limited access to economic opportunities for the majority <strong>of</strong> our people in this Province.Citizens yearn for a fully functional and efficient <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Agriculture</strong>, Environmental Affairs andRural Development. This <strong>Department</strong> has been given amongst others, the most important <strong>of</strong> tasks,that <strong>of</strong> ensuring that no citizen goes to bed hungry. Our task can be simplified as ensuring increasedfood production and reducing food insecurity, safeguarding the environment from exploitation andpromoting its optimal, efficient and sustainable use so that it can replenish the natural resource baseand empower the disadvantaged, particularly rural people as alluded to by His Excellency, the President<strong>of</strong> the RSA. We are a responsive government and, accordingly, we have crafted programmes that webelieve respond adequately to the plight <strong>of</strong> the KwaZulu-Natal citizenry.In his State <strong>of</strong> the Nation Address, the President has declared <strong>2011</strong> a year <strong>of</strong> job creation throughmeaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth. Every sector has been challenged to focuson job creation and all government departments have been urged to align their programmes withthe job creation imperatives. Of the six priority areas identified for job creation, two <strong>of</strong> them, namelyagriculture and the green economy are among the key mandates <strong>of</strong> this <strong>Department</strong>. The New GrowthPath (NGP) identifies amongst others, development <strong>of</strong> agricultural value chains and new opportunitiesin the green economy as well as fostering rural development as main economic drivers in the realm<strong>of</strong> job creation.ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN <strong>2011</strong>/12iii