Government allocates R1.2-billion to assist agriculture industry

An amount of R1.2-billion has been allocated to help the agriculture industry during the Covid-19 lockdown.

This disaster fund intervention would assist small-scale farmers, according to agriculture, land reform and rural development minister Thoko Didiza.

“Government has set aside funds to curb the impact of coronavirus in various sectors. About R400-million has been allocated for farmers within the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) programme. The remainder will be channelled towards all other farmers that are mainly within poultry, other livestock [and] vegetables.”

Didiza said farmers who were preparing for the 2020 summer production season would not be supported.

“The aim is to provide immediate to near-term support to smallholder farmers currently affected by Covid-19. Mechanisation, infrastructure and overhead costs will not be supported. This is not comprehensive support, but an intervention package amid the coronavirus [lockdown],” she said.

Didiza said the farmers who would be supported were the ones with good farming practices.

“We will ensure we identify and target at least 50% women and youth 40% as well as men and those living with disabilities. This is not a comprehensive support, but an intervention with regards to the challenge the country is facing. The aim is to secure food for the coming six months while we deal with Covid-19.”

Didiza said the intervention would not assist in the payment of debt.

There was, however, R100-million available through the Land Bank to help farmers who are in distress, she said.

She said that applications for funding will open on 8 April and close on 22 April.

“The time frame is short, but will enable everybody who qualifies to apply within that period; no late applications will be accepted.”

Applications can be lodged electronically at applications@dalrrd.gov.za or submitted to the department’s offices.

Didiza said there were qualifying criteria for farmers.

“Farmers have to be SA citizens who have been actively farming for a period of 12 months or more and currently in a production season or cycle. They must be registered in the department’s databases. They must have an annual turnover between R20 000 and R1-million annually,” she said.

“The flower industry is one of the sectors we support, but for this intervention we are targeting farmers who produce food, who will be able to give us the maximum food we need as a country for the next six months.”

Didiza assured South Africans that the agricultural sector “was producing enough food for country to take us through the lockdown”.

Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news.

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).