Budget squeeze for Agricultural Research Council amid drought

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THE Agricultural Research Council (ARC), one of SA's key weapons in the fight against the current drought, has seen its net surplus decline by 300% during 2014-15.

While still in the black the ARC has experienced a 300% decrease in its surplus from R137m to R34m for the 2014-15 financial year.

The ARC is at the forefront of SA’s battle against drought and needs sufficient resources, funding, and human capacity for the research that can mitigate the agricultural risks associated with drought and heat.

South Africa was facing its worst drought in more than two decades as the El Nino weather pattern disrupted planting.

At the launch of the ARC annual report last week ARC CEO Dr Shadrack Moephuli said that it was unfortunate that funding for agricultural research has been declining in recent years.

"More funding is required to be channelled in the area of agricultural research from both private and public sectors," he said.