This is according to the Provincial Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Department, who further stated that R17 million worth of vouchers has been approved to assist 389 farmers in the province. 

The department added that this forms part of the R1.2 billion Covid-19 Agricultural Disaster Support Fund allocated to help smallholder and communal farmers across the country. 

The funds are aimed at ensuring food security amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

MEC William Bulwane's office confirms that the department has so far approved 171 applications in the Mangaung Metro Municipality, 120 applications in the Thabo Mofutsanyane Municipality, 56 applications in Lejweleputswa Municipality, while 36 applications were approved in the Fezile Dabi Municipality and seven in the Xhariep Municipality.

The department, in a statement, explains the funding is in the form of a voucher and it does not exceed R50 000 per farming operation.

"To date, the province has approved 389 applications of the 5 384 received applications.  The remaining 4 995 unsuccessful applications did not meet the qualifying criteria. In unapproved applications, farmers were unable to prove their market access, lack of access to farming land or had no annual returns"  

It is further highlighted that commodities that have been prioritised for funding are poultry, vegetables, livestock and winter field crops.

Farmers who want to apply for the funding need to have a turnover of between R20 000 and R1 million per annum for them to qualify for the relief fund.

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