Drought funding allocation worry

Agri SA curious how R553m will be spent While more thanR500-million has been allocated to assist farmers during one of the countr y’s worst droughts, the agricultural sector is left wondering where the money will go and who will benefit. During his mid-term budget speech on Wednesday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said R553-millionwould be set aside for drought relief, over and above the R1.6-billion already designated for emergency assistance to farmers . However, Agri SA executive director Omri van Zyl is curious to see how this money will be spent, and said they were surprised to hear that R341-million had been earmarked for a desalination project, while only R212-million would go towards equipment and supplies for struggling farmers.