THE RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RDP) AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A NEW CHALLENGE TO THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTI / DIE HEROPBOU-EN ONTWKKELINGSPROGRAM (HOP) EN STREEKSONTWIKKELING: 'N NUWE UITDAGING VIR DIE LANDBOU-EKONOOM

Abstract

Political change has engendered a new regional dispensation which poses development problems and also challenges. Survival and sustainability are key requirements for human security. Modern approaches to regional development favour a bottom-up approach, with local and regional authorities shouldering the main responsibility. The South African government has only recently started to emphasise the need for economic growth as prerequisite for achieving basic needs and human development. The RDP alludes to the importance of a balance between growth and equity. It will have to cope with structural regidities in the South African economy. International competitiveness must be improved by industrial and trade reforms, employment growth must be accelerated, education needs improvement, South Africa must achieve monetary and fiscal stability, reduced inflation, increased savings and an attack on poverty. A new approach to regional development is needed. Although recent agricultural policy statements emphasise a balance efficiency and equity, the accent is already on improved access to previously excluded groups, particularly in terms of marketing development, research, finance, extension and human resource development. Regional development will be profoundly influenced by the type of power given to regional governments, fiscal relationships between regional and national governments, regional disparities, institutional factors and relationships with NGO's and civics. It is within this framework that agricultural economists must shape their contributions to the RDP.

Politieke verandering het 'n nuwe regionale dispensasie meegebring wat ontwikkelingsprobleme. en ook uitdagings daarstel. Oorlewing en volhoubaarheid is sleutelvereistes vir menslike sekuriteit. Modeme streeks-ontwikkelingsbenaderings begunstig 'n van benewe-boontoe benadering waarin plaaslike en streeksowerhede die belangrikste verantwoordelikheid dra. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het slegs onlangs begin om die nodigheid vir ekonomiese groei te benadruk as voorvereiste vir verwesenliking van basiese benodigdhede en mense-ontwikkeling. Die HOP sinspeel op 'n balans tussen groei en billikheid. Dit sal strukturele rigiditeite in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie moet oorkom. Internasionale mededingendheid moet verbeter word deur industreële en handelshervormings; indiensnemingstoename moet versnel word; opvoeding benodig verbetering. Suid-Afrika moet monetêre en fiskale stabiliteit, laer inflasie, verhoogde besparing en 'n aanslag op armoede behaal. 'n Nuwe benadering tot streeksontwikkeling is nodig. Hoewel onlangse landboubeleidstellings 'n balans tussen doeltreffendheid en billikheid benadruk, lê die aksent duidelik op verbeterde toegang van voorheen uitgeslote groepe, veral in terme van bemarkingsontwikkeling, navorsing, voorligting en mensehulpbronontwikkeling. Streeksontwikkeling sal grootliks beïnvloed word deur die tipes van magte wat aan regionale regerings toegestaan word, fiskale verhoudings tussen regionale en nasionale regerings, regionale ongelykhede, institusionele faktore en verhoudings met NRO's en “civics”. Dis die raamwerk waarbinne landbu-ekonome hul bydraes tot die HOP sal moet fatsoeneer.