Didiza: 15 000 applications approved for Covid-19 fund

Applicants who have been approved for the Agriculture Disaster Fund will receive up to R50 000 in assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza briefed media on the outcome of the Agricultural Disaster Fund application process on Sunday. 

“Each of the approved farmers will receive inputs in line with the size of their farming operations up to a maximum of R50 000,” said Didiza.

Over 15 000 applications have been approved by the department with the majority of the funding going to men.

“A total of 15 036 applications were received from the department. 

“5 494 are women, 2 493 youth and 224 people living with disability and males at 9542,” adds Didiza. 

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A total of R1.2 billion has been made available to farmers from the department to ensure sustainable food production in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Didiza said the application process has revealed that livestock has been been the most requested commodity, followed by vegetables, poultry and fruit. 

Those who have been approved for funds will be issued with vouchers from Monday. 

“The issuance of vouchers to provinces will commence tomorrow.

“The department engaged the services of different suppliers through an open supply chain management (SCM)process to avoid any delay in the delivery of these inputs,” she adds.