This comes after minister Thoko Didiza, in April this year, announced R1.2 billion has been set aside for farmers' relief in the country. This fund was aimed at assisting farmers that meet the criteria to continue with sustainable food production during the pandemic. The provincial department's spokesperson, Zandisile Luphahla, says more than 1 400 small holder and subsistence farmers were approved n the Northern Cape after more than 8 800 applications were received.  OFM News' Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Luphahla...

See PODCAST below

He says about 1 435 small holder and subsistence farmers were assisted through the Covid-19 intervention programme in the Northern Cape.

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.

A total number of 8 861 application forms were received by the department, but 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).

A total of 251 women, 140 youth and 19 people living with a disability and  1 025 males were among the applicants that were approved for the relief fund.  

Luphahla says the livestock category was 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 R42 million.

The highest number of application forms were collected in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district with 4 174 submissions, followed by Namakwa with 1 705 while the ZF Mgcawu recorded 1 375 application forms with Frances Baard at 1 123 and lastly Pixley ka Seme, recording 483 submissions.

The Namakwa region received the highest number of approvals of 689, followed by Pixley ka Seme at 220, ZF Mgcawu, 203, John Taolo Gaetsewe, 169,  and Frances Baard, 154 applications.

Luphahla, however, gives his assurance that the selection criteria and the qualifying process was clear, transparent and consistent across all districts in the Northern Cape.

OFM News