Earlier this year, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced that from 1 July, a zero-based budgeting (ZBB) approach would be applied to all government departments.
If implemented, this would force all government departments to use a method of budgeting in which expenses need to be justified for each new budgeting period. ZBB means that each government department’s budget starts from scratch, and thus questions every element incorporated into the budget. ZBB, which was developed in the 1970s, was first used by consumer goods companies, but is now applied across most industries. So far, no government agency has implemented ZBB for an extended period of time, as budget managers find it too laborious to go through the process of justifying every programme and service on a yearly basis. However, it is exactly for this reason that I believe ZBB should be implemented in state departments.
For years, I have made it clear that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) is focusing on “spending the budget” with no clear plan of action on how this expenditure will benefit the growth of the agriculture sector and support transformation through land reform.
Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu recently reported that irregular government expenditure for the 2018/2019 financial year rose to R32 billion, which was an increase of R7 billion from the previous financial year.
While the fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the agriculture department does not frequently grab headlines, it will become clearer once expenditure items are scrutinised.
INFLATED PRICING
I have seen the department paying R1,4 million for a kilometre of normal fencing, while the average rate is R16 000.
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Denne historien er fra October 23, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
