The Department of of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has written to farmers organisations and other interested parties regarding the review applications of 40 000 smallholder and communal farmers who did not benefit from the Covid-19 Disaster Agricultural Support Fund.
On 24 March 2020, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Thoko Didiza, announced that the department has allocated R1.2 billion to support smallholder and communal farmers in mitigation of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food production value chain.
Out of 55 000 applications received, approximately 15 500 were approved and issued with vouchers.
Mooketsa Ramasodi, DALRRD’s acting Director General, said the Minister-Members of the Executive Council (MinMEC) engaged on this matter and resolved that the 40 000 unsuccessful applications be reviewed.
“In processing the resolution of MinMEC, the Minister established a Task Team to manage this review with specific focus on the physical verification of the farmers, farming operations and operational requirements. The review will be concluded at the end of November 2020,” said Ramasodi.
Furthermore, said Ramasodi, your attention is drawn to a decision by the Minister to extend the validity period of the vouchers for the Smallholder and Communal farmers COVID-19 to 31 December 2020.
Ramasodi thanked farmer organisation for their support in informing their esteemed membership regarding the developments
