PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & LAND AFFAIRS

The following entities still need to appear before the Committee as part of the oversight function:

• Onderstepoort Biological Products;
• Ncera Farms (Pty) Ltd;
• Perishable Products Export Control Board;
• KwaZulu/Natal Ingonyama Trust Board;
• Khula Land Reform Credit Facility;
• Bala Farms (Pty) Ltd; and
• Inala Farm Company (Pty) Ltd

The following reports need to finalization by the Committee:

• Consideration and adoption of the Genetically Modified Organisms conference report;
• NA debate on the Zimbabwe Study Visit Report;
• Adoption of the Hearings report on the Role of the Private Sector in Agricultural Development;
• Further deliberations on the South African Human Rights Commission on "Chapter Three" of its Socio-economic report: Departmental response is required;
• Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety: Committee needed to have a joint meeting with Environmental Affairs and Trade and Industry Committees in order to finalize the matter;

The Portfolio Committee has managed to disposed-off all Bills referred to it for consideration.

• Bills still to be introduced: Agricultural Enhancement Agents Bill

The purpose of the visit was to monitor the projects established by both Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs in Provinces. Committee was unable to carryout these due to lack of funding.

The study visits to Botswana and Zimbabwe were approved by Parliament. However, on a request from the South African High Commissioner in Gaberone, the visit to Botswana was postponed.

Study visit to Brazil had to be cancelled because of the lack of funding.

The Committee would still like to have public hearings on:

• The pace of Land Reform in South Africa;
• Land Policy on Foreign Ownership.

The following institutions made formal requests to appear before the Committee in order to be heard. Due to time constraints, these requests had to deferred.

• University of Pretoria: Faculty of Veterinary Science;
• Coega Development Corporation (CDC);
• South African Banking Council;
• National African Farmer’s Union (NAFU);
• Western Cape Land and Restitution Forum; and
• Decidous Fruit Producers Trust.

The Committee is of the view and recommends that all the outstanding matters should receive priority attention from the new constituted Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs.

____________________________________