With an unwavering focus on food security, job creation, and ethical governance, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) has tabled a R671.1 million budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Framed as “focused, purposeful, and people-centered,” the budget signals a shift toward real solutions for real challenges facing households and smallholder farmers across the province.

Strengthening Capacity to Deliver

Of the total allocation, R23.8 million is earmarked for building internal capacity. As the MEC noted, “We must be equipped to deliver on the promises we make.” This foundation is vital to ensure that public service systems function efficiently and transparently.

Strategic Priorities with a Real-World Impact

The department’s five strategic anchors reflect a grounded understanding of Gauteng’s socio-economic needs:

• Ending hunger and building household food security
• Commercialising smallholder farmers and revitalising agro-industries
• Creating sustainable jobs
• Embracing innovation and prioritising rural development
• Driving ethical, results-driven governance

Backing Smallholder Farmers: From Subsistence to Scale

A central pillar of the budget is the commercialisation of smallholder farmers. With R15 million allocated to expand agri-parks, the province aims to give farmers the tools to scale up, access markets, and aggregate their produce more efficiently.

This strategy is already bearing fruit. Through a partnership with the South African Poultry Association, Gauteng launched its first egg aggregation and packing station, which has processed over 12 million eggs and directly benefited 25 smallholder farmers.

Further support is being delivered via the Conditional Agricultural Support Programme, with R111,615 set aside to boost on-the-ground resilience, infrastructure, and farmer training.

Targeting Hunger with Systemic Interventions

With nearly 4.5 million Gauteng residents living in food-insecure conditions, the department has pledged to reduce hunger by 10% over the medium term. This is more than a target — it’s a moral imperative.

The plan includes:

• Scaling backyard and community farming initiatives
• Forming partnerships with NGOs and private sector players
• Redirecting surplus food to needy households

The Ilima/Letsema Programme receives a R41 million injection to support subsistence farmers, enabling them to produce not just for themselves, but for their communities.

Revitalising Agro-Processing and Township Economies

Earlier this month, GDARD hosted the inaugural Gauteng Agro-processing Convention and Expo (3–4 July) — a landmark event that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers to reshape the province’s agro-industrial landscape.

Key outcomes included the launch of a R100 million blended finance Agro-processing Fund in partnership with the National Empowerment Fund, now reviewing 32 enterprisesfor investment. This fund is expected to unlock local value chains, support township-based enterprises, and boost employment.

To strengthen market access, the department has allocated R12 million to promote “Made in GP” products via farmers’ markets and digital platforms — a leap forward in direct-to-consumer trade.

Animal Health: Safeguarding Livestock and Trade

GDARD has committed R104 million to its Veterinary Services programme. Gauteng has recorded zero rabies-related deaths since 2011, underscoring the province’s leadership in veterinary public health.

That said, the current outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease poses a serious challenge. The department is responding by bolstering biosecurity systems, livestock traceability, and rapid disease response mechanisms.

Governance Rooted in Results and Accountability

Perhaps most striking is the department’s stance on governance. Last year saw zero fruitless or wasteful expenditure — and business plans were submitted on time.

The MEC has committed to fast-tracked infrastructure implementation, strict oversight, and full accountability for every rand spent. This budget is not just about money—it’s a blueprint for measurable, community-centered transformation.

Conclusion: A Budget with a Conscience

As Gauteng positions itself as a leader in agricultural innovation, inclusive growth, and ethical governance, the 2025/26 budget represents more than figures. It is an action plan for transformation — one that puts the province’s most vulnerable citizens at the heart of economic recovery and growth.

Whether through empowering smallholder farmers, fighting hunger, revitalising agro-industries, or ensuring veterinary health, GDARD is sowing the seeds for a more resilient, inclusive, and food-secure Gauteng.

“Every rand must deliver dignity,” the MEC affirmed — and with this budget, Gauteng seems poised to do just that.

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