The MEC responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Nandi Ndalane is pleased by the number of farmers who continue to apply for the COVID-19 relief fund. Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Didiza recently announced that an amount of R1.2 billion has been ring-fenced to help financially distressed small scale farmer.
The Minister announced that the application for the relief fund would be from 08 April to 22 April 2020.he Minister announced that the application for the relief fund would be from 08 April to 22 April 2020.Ndalane visited Mokwakwaila Service Centre on 15 April 2020 where applications for Covid-19 was underway. Over 50 farmers have already applied at this service centre.
Ndalane expressed contentment with the response by the farmers and further encouraged all qualifying farmers who are yet to apply to do so before the deadline of the 22 April 2020. “No application will be entertained after the deadline, therefore, I’m calling on all qualifying farmers to use this opportunity and apply as the deadline is fast approaching.
This relief intervention will help sustain food production and importantly ensure that our farmers sustain their businesses which also play a huge role of providing much needed employment to our people. Prior to her visit to Mokwakwaila Service Centre, Ndalane visited subsistence farmers at Politsi outside Tzaneen. During the visit which was aimed at monitoring COVID19 compliance, she discovered that some of the farmers lacked basic necessities like masks and sanitizers with a few yet to obtain working permit. Ndalane urged officials to help the farmers in obtaining permits and facilitate awareness in order to protect them against the novel Coronavirus.