MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 JULY 2020
R42 million Covid-19 relief funding for Northern Cape Farmers.
IN April 2020, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms. Thoko Didiza announced that R1.2 billion has been aside for farmers’ relief in the country. About 1 435 Small Holder and Subsistence Farmers were assisted through the Corvid-19 intervention program in the Northern Cape.
The fund was targeting the Small Holder and Subsistence Farmers, who would be assisted to address the effects of the Covid-19, and ensuring sustainable food production during the pandemic.
Commodities which were identified to be supported were poultry, vegetables, fruits, livestock and winter field crops.
The closing date for application forms was 22 April 2020.
The Northern Cape Province has received a total number of 8 861 application forms, however, because of non-fulfillment of the requirements in the application forms, only 1 435 were approved by the Provincial Covid-19 Disaster Agricultural Applications Committee (PCDAAC).
Of the 1 435 approved applications, 251 were women, 140 youth and 19 people living with disability and males were 1 025.
The livestock category has been the most requested commodity by farmers, followed by poultry and vegetables. Each of the approved farmers have received inputs in line with the size of their farming operations up to a maximum of R50 000.
The total budget for the approved applications in the Northern Cape is R 42 million.
The high number of application forms were collected in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district with 4 174 submissions, followed by Namakwa with 1 705.
The ZF Mgcawu recorded 1 375 application forms with Frances Baard at 1 123 and lastly Pixley ka Seme, recording 483 submissions.
Out of all the regions, Namakwa received the highest number of approvals to the total of 689, followed by Pixley ka Seme at 220.
The ZF Mgcawu region got an approval of 203 applications, with John Taolo Gaetsewe receiving 169 and Frances Baard, 154.
The selection criteria and the qualifying process was clear, transparent and consistent across all districts in the Province.
However, the Minister will appoint the National Appeal Committee which will attend to all the concerns raised regarding non-funding of farmers who applied.
Issued by the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform.
Enquiries: Zandisile Luphahla (Media Liaison Officer)
083 391 5388