Research and Development (R&D)

A consultation process was followed with all major stakeholders within the national agricultural research system in formulating the draft R&D strategy. Inputs from the consultations will be consolidated in the strategy and will be endorsed by the National Agricultural Research Forum (NARF) in June 2007. Ad hoc short-term research projects were co-ordinated and managed through service level agreements with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). A total of 41 research and development projects to an amount of R42 million were commissioned by the department in the 2006/07 financial year.