Coronavirus: Minister details support for small-scale farmers to ensure food supply
Agriculture Minister, Thoko Didiza has provided details of the R1.2 billion fund for small-scale farmers who are South African citizens to increase food production.
Speaking at a briefing in Pretoria this afternoon, Didiza said the aim was to secure food for the next six months.
She says applications for the support will open on Wednesday, 08 April and close on the 22 April.
Didiza says R400 million of the sum has been ring-fenced for farmers with a proactive land acquisition strategy while the remainder will be channelled towards all other farmers who meet specific criteria.
Listen to the list of commodities and qualifying criteria below:
Applications forms will be available at local, district, provincial and national offices of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
Farmers can also find the forms on the department's website.
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Didiza says agricultural production continues to ensure food security for the country.
"Food is being produced at farm level and deliveries are being made to wholesale, retailers, fresh produce markets and other critical distribution points," she said.
Didiza says the department and the industry are monitoring the country's food supplies. She says when the value chain tracker picks up any challenges, these are escalated for immediate attention.
She has again warned against panic buying at this time.
"Such buying only serves to create shortages in our food supply chain, and unfortunately, in some instances, this may result in unnecessary food hikes."
"We, therefore, would ask our people to actually bare with us and to ensure that they buy the necessary stuff at particular times - not to hoard stuff that they don't need immediately."
