Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson of the department, says it is highly unlikely that the closing date, which is today, will be extended, as the department is positive  a large number of farmers have received the necessary information about the intervention. He says this is clear from the inquiries received by the department on national as well as provincial level regarding assistance with the application process. He says there is still time until 16:00 today to submit applications. Ngcobo could not provide the total number of applications received at this stage, but says it will be released on a later stage. OFM News' Christal-Lize Muller spoke to him...

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Ngcobo also calls on interested wholesalers, distributors or agribusinesses to register with the department this week Thursday. They need to indicate what specific agricultural production inputs they are able to provide. This comes after the R1,2 billion aid will be provided in the form of a voucher system, with R50 000 granted per farmer.  He says this registration process will enable the department to determine which providers have available emergency inputs to make it available to small and communal farmers through the voucher system.  OFM News' Christal-Lize Muller spoke to him...

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Interested wholesalers, distributors, or agribusiness outlets need to provide a list breakdown of specific agricultural production inputs they have in stock. Ngcobo says the department intends to procure by means of issuing purchase vouchers to approved farmers who can them buy products  from their nearest wholesaler, distributor or agribusiness outlet. 

The department requires a typical “cash and carry’’ set up, not a middleman. Interested suppliers should, therefore, provide a physical address of their business from where farmers can "cash-and-carry" products using the provided vouchers.

Commodities to be supported and prioritized include poultry, day old chicks; point of lay chickens; feed; medication; and sawdust. Vegetables (seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, and soil correction and fruit (fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides), other livestock (feed and medication) as well as winter field crops, (soil correction, fertilizer, seeds, herbicides and pesticides, are included. 

Suppliers can express interest by completing the vendor form, available at www.dalrrd.gov.za.

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