Gauteng emerging farmers in the priority areas of poultry, piggery, grains,
vegetables, red meat, cannabis, aquaculture, rabbit, bee farming and Agri processing are invited to apply for funding as part of the Gauteng Department of
Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment’s efforts to grow the agricultural
sector, create jobs and alleviate poverty in the province.
The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) which closes this week
Friday (March 15), is informed by the Department’s elevated priority focus to
maintain sustainable food security in the province.
“We are making a call to the historically disadvantaged and the vulnerable groups:
our women, youth and people living with disabilities to apply for the farmer support
grant and become part of our relentless fight against food insecurity.” Gauteng MEC
for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mbali
Hlophe said.
According to Hlophe, the farmer support programme is aimed at providing Small
Medium and Micro Enterprise farmers with much-needed boost towards their farming
establishments.
The relief programme is building on its previous successes which has seen an
average of 250 beneficiaries per annum empowered into the mainstream economy
since its establishment in 2004.
The annual subsidy is available to groups and individuals as a once-off intervention
so that the Department can cover a wider spectrum of beneficiaries for reasonable
impact.
To remain transparent, the process takes place under the microscope of an independent evaluation and adjudication pane.
The panel consists of professionals from fields including economists, animal scientists, crop scientists, engineers, and food scientists.
Potential beneficiaries need to meet the following conditional requirements to apply:
• Application form signed and dated
• South African Certified ID (not more than three months)
• Valid confirmation of land tenure/ownership such as title deeds, permission to
occupy land and/or minimum five-year lease agreement.
• Already farming
• Farming operation’s ability to create permanent or seasonal jobs
• In cases where the Environment Impact Assessment certificate is required, such
evidence must be provided.
Once all these have been met, applications may be emailed to:
GDARDFARMERSUPPORT@gauteng.gov.za.
Prospective applicants can obtain forms from the following satellite offices:
Regional Office
Address
Responsible Person
Contact Details
Germiston Regional
Office
247 President Street,
Ms Dorcas Motloung
083 312 4693
Vereeniging
Regional Office
36 Merriman Street,
Ms Makgukgudi
Monrontse
010 345 1230
066 489 1696
Temba Animal
Clinic
Stand 16 Stellenbosch,
Jubilee Road,
Mr Melvin Francis
072 781 7006
Bronkhorstsprut
55 Market Street
Ms Jeanette Ramathoka 072 768 5585
