Services

Agribusiness Development

Marketing information is sent to farmers and farmer organisations within five days of receipt.
Meetings with farmers and commodity groups to discuss marketing information are held within two weeks upon receipt of request.
Business plans are developed within ten day upon receipt of requests from client.
The effectiveness of marketing information is assessed on a quarterly basis.
Policies relating to marketing information are reviewed yearly.
Farmer's training on agribusiness entrepreneurship is offered 5 days upon request.

Agricultural Research

Database of all research projects is done by or in collaboration with the department at all times.
A procedure exists to refer and receive feedback from client on problems requiring attention of Researchers.
There is a provincial research committee and it meets at least annually to approve and review progress on research projects.
Research themes, projects and results are made public to clients on an annual basis.
Farmer formations and affected stakeholders are consulted annually to determine the provincial research agenda.
Farmers are exposed to best practise on a particular commodity at least once every year.
Training of researchers: Each researcher is to train at least five student groups, extension officer and farmers annually.

Agriplanning Development

Economic and statistics information is provided to farmers monthly.
Combud is published annually.
Economic research on farming profitability is conducted on quarterly basis.
Training of farmers is conducted bi-monthly.
Meeting with stake holders of economic information are arranged and held within a week of receipt.
Results of economic research are communicated to clients within a week of their availability.
Financial management of co-operatives and government finance projects are monitored quarterly.

Animal and Crop Production

Information on services rendered and responsible officers at a local office is made available at all times.
Technical production advice is reported monthly and given locally throughout the year.
Information leaflets on commodities common to the particular municipality is made available at our municipal offices at all times.
Assistance on Production programmes is given to farmers to develop own production at all times.
Linkages with Research institutions are provided at local level at all times.
Technical Support is given to commodity associations to serve their members at all times.
Technician at municipality, district and head office meet yearly with commodity organizations to consider plans and assess progress.
Policy, programme and legislation development and review are done in consultation with affected farmer formations at regular interval agreed upon with such formations. Statement/operational.
Farmers are exposed to best practice on a particular commodity at least once every year.

Animal Health

Appointment with farmers, whether for inspection, sampling or vaccination, is done two weeks in advance.
In case of changes in the vaccination program the farmer, dip tank assistant and the chairperson of the Dip tank Committee is informed two days before the actual date.
Protective clothing, instruments and equipment are cleaned and sterilized before and during operations.
Eradication Scheme officer are to covers all animals in the respective wards in a cycle of 5 years for Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis during which the routine inspections on cattle & small stock is done.
Once veterinary laboratory has finalized investigations, stakeholders are informed of the outcome in writing within a week.
The client is attended to on arrival if he made an appointment and without an appointment at next available opening/ slot on arrival.
Clinical services are provided through out the year.
Production and reproduction problems are attended to within 2 weeks of identification.
Investigations on animal health are attended to within 2 weeks from request.
Stock census is handled annually during August.
Stock registers are updated after each farm visits.
Movement of livestock and their products is controlled throughout the year.
Farmer information days and exhibitions are done once a year.
Export and import inspections, certifications and quarantine are attended to on request within 5 days.

Dipping / Inspection

Animals in the buffer zone are dipped every 7 days in summer.
Animals in buffer zone are dipped in 14 days interval in winter for the control of external parasites target population of 80%.
Survelliance Area Control of external parasites is done in 14 days interval in summer and winter and the target population for dipping session *ACS is 80%.
The rest of the area is done in 28 days interval and the target Population is 70%.

Vaccination

Vaccination for prevention of diseases is done in the following Zones:

Buffer zones
- FMD is done twice a yer, first vaccination is done between April- May.
- Second vaccination is done during October- November and the target population is 99,9%
Rest of the province
- Blanthrax:
  Vaccination is done yearly during June-July and the target population is 75%
- Brucellosis:
  Vaccination is done yearly among Heifer calves between the age of 4-8 months during February- March of each year and the target Population is 99,9%
- Rabies:
  Vaccination is done yearly January- December and the target Population is 75%

Extension Services

Capacity Building of Farmer Organisations

A minimum of 3 workshops shall be held per quarter per officer.
Liaison meetings with organised agriculture are held quarterly to update them on new developments.
Planned visits to evaluate the practical application of the knowledge acquired on the field are done fortnightly.
One farmers Day per quarter per officer is organised.
Training programs based on need analysis are developed, agreed upon and reviewed annually.
Annual progress report on agricultural research trial to be completed by 30th September each year.

Capacity Building of Technical Staff

Workshops relating to technical staff and capacity building are held bi-monthly.
One information sharing day per month per municipality is held.
A register of farmer organizations with their addresses and telephone numbers is being kept and updated monthly.
There are fortnightly planned visits to evaluate the practical application of the knowledge acquired on the field / farm.
One information sharing day per quarter per district is held.
One information sharing day per year provincially is held.
Four campaigns per municipality per year are held.
An extension officer to have one field/exposure visit per year.
20 method and one result demonstration per officer per annum.
20 lectures per officer per annum.
One officer one radio talk show per annum.
Four farmer/stakeholder meetings per officer per month.
Annual Quality Review reports are to be done on the impact of the programme in January.
Farmers day is held once yearly provincially.
Annual progress reports on agricultural research trials to be completed 30th September of each year
Each Agriculture researcher to have at least three trials registered in a year.

Farm Management

Identification to be used for research purposes to be done at the beginning of each year.
Fields to be used for farmer's training to be demarcated three times per year.
Production inputs are purchased at the beginning of every financial year.
Breeding stock for livestock, fish and vegetables to be produced during the right seasons.
Selection and culling is done once a year.
Auction sales for culled livestock to be conducted twice per year.

Learnership and Skill Program

Learners are recruited from various programs in consultation with extension officers at Municipal level at all times.
Learners, who are recruited for learnership program, must be from farming projects and must at least have a minimum of grade 9.
Admission to skill program is open to all farmers, and youth that are interested in farming.
Learners are registered immediately upon arrival at the college.
Learners are assessed through tests, practical observations and questionnaires during and at the end of each module.
Learners are awarded certificates of competency five months after completion.
Follow-up visits are conducted one a month after training.

Research and Outreach

Co-ordinate with the extension officers at Municipality level on a monthly basis.
Interaction with various farming groups / project on a monthly basis.
Identification of research, training and non-training needs twice per year.
Conduct after care follow-up visits bi-monthly.
Request for interventions to be responded to within seven days.
Research trials are conducted in close collaboration with farmers twice per year.
Information dissemination through workshops, information days/ farmer's days are done four times per year.

Seed Unit

Certified maize seeds received are processed on a weekly basis.
Processed seeds are packaged in 2kg and 5kg bags for sales.
Two tons of seeds are multiplied per growing season.

Soil and Water Laboratory Services

Request for soil sample will be responded to within seven working days.
Clients are informed by the outcomes of the sampling within three days after the request.
Sampling is done within seven working days and the invoice be attached to every result.
Disputes relating to analysis will be resolved within one week after the complaint is received.

Training

Admission applications for diploma are responded to within seven days.
Closing date for receiving application forms is the 31st October of each year and no late applications will be considered.
Learners register at the college after payment of registration fee in January and July of each year.
Students are assessed through theory test, practical test and examinations at the end of each module.
Students are awarded the diploma certificates upon successful completion of all modules.

Land Care

One information sharing day is held per district quarterly.
Educate communities on the principles and management of natural resource conservation for sustainable agricultural productivity on a monthly basis.
Farmers are identified to construct surveyed conservation works.
Farmers are encouraged farmers to adopt water conservation tillage system.
Extension officers to encouraged farmers to make 5m fire belts around their around their orchards and paddocks.
Land care forums at wards and municipality are to meet at regular basis.
There are fortnightly plan visits to evaluate the practical application of the knowledge acquired on the field / farm.
One information sharing day is held provincially per year.
Four Land awareness campaigning are held per municipality annually.
20 lectures per officer per annum.
Four farmer and stakeholder meetings are held per officer per month.
Farmers day is held yearly provincially.

Agricultural Engineering

Farmers needs are determined annually.
Respond to service by farmers request should be within 5 working days.
Carry out requested engineering design and analysis and produce a report necessary for technology development and advisory services within 10 days.
Identify and establish criteria necessary for implementing of engineering design and technology development within 30 days of receipt.
All technical requests are recorded and attended to within 5 working days from the day of receipt.
Emergency requests which need written or verbal response are attended to within a day after the requests.
All requests which need sanctioning from head office are finalised by head office within 10 working days after receipt

Provision of Resource Conservation Services

New farms are surveyed and contoured 4 days per hectare 30 days after requisition.
Soil conservation structures are built within 3 month depending on the size of the farm.
During rainy seasons ridges are built on both sides of the row for storing water.
After acquisitions of farms 5m grass trips are constructed between two fields.
During winter seasons 5m fire belts are made between two fields.
Conservation of layout is surveyed within a week of it being determined necessary.

Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD)

What is the LRAD Programme?

The Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme was designed to help previously disadvantaged citizens from African, Coloured and Indian communities to buy land or agricultural implements specifically for agricultural purposes.

How does it Help People?

Most of our people do not have sufficient money to buy land for farming purposes. This programme will make some money available to successful applicants to help supplement what they already have for purchasing agricultural land. This will be done in the form of government grants.

What is the LRAD Grant?

It is a non refundable form of funding or financial contribution to help prospective farmers to purchase land by government.

How much will I Get?

A formula will to be used to determine how much an individual will get. This formula is based on how much money or inputs to be used in the farming operations on that piece of land (own contribution in kind), or a combination of the two a person contributes towards the purchasing of that particular piece of land or on-farm implements (own financial contribution).

What is Own Contribution?

The grant will only serve as financial supplementation to what an applicant already has. Own contribution is therefore the money that an applicant should bring into the process to form part of the whole capital package, viz. own contribution + grant.

Is only Cash accepted as Own Contribution?

There is a number of ways in which own contributions can be made, viz.

Cash contribution
An applicant can contribute from a minimum of R5 000, which will qualify for a matching grant of R20 000 up to a maximum of R400 000 which will in turn qualify for a matching grant amount of R100 000.
Contribution in kind
There are a number of ways you can contribute in kind, viz. property, machinery, equipment and livestock. These will be equated to their current cash value and the total amount then used as own contribution.
Own labour
Any number of labour units will be equated to a maximum of R5 000 own contribution.

What Assets can be used as Own Contribution?

Existing agricultural assets that are integral to the operation of the land to be acquired through the programme.

What Assets cannot be used as Own Contribution?

Land that was accessed through an earlier grant, restitution, tenure security grant, donation, etc.

What if I have not yet finished paying for some of my Assets?

Outstanding debt on agricultural assets will not affect the extent to which these will be counted as own contribution.

What is the Minimum and the Maximum Amount that one can get and what is the corresponding Own Contribution?

A minimum amount of R20 000 will require a minimum own contribution amount (cash or in-kind) of R5 000 and a maximum of R100 000 will require a maximum own contribution amount of R400 000. Between the minimum and maximum amounts, there is a continuum of grant amounts, depending on the participant's own contribution (see scale of grant and own contribution).

Why is it that the less money one contributes the larger the Grant ratio is?

This programme is aimed at helping poor people. The grant scale is therefore designed in a way that the less money one has, the bigger the grant to own contribution ratio one will receive compared to what someone with a bigger contribution will receive.

What can use the Grant for?

Acquisition of land
Land improvements, infrastructure investments, capital assets and short-term agricultural inputs

Which Departments are responsible for the Programme?

Grants will be provided by the Department of Land Affairs, but both the departments of Land Affairs and Agriculture will work in collaboration to oversee the whole process from start to finish.

Who should apply?

You should

Be a member of a previously disadvantaged group (i.e. African, Coloured or Indian)
Be 18 years or older
Intend to use the land for agricultural purposes only
Intend to farm on a full-time basis (except for safety-net projects)
Neither be a civil servant, politician or hold any position within government structures
Be prepared to participate in a training programme after land acquisition
Be in a position to make an own contribution
Be an individual or organised entity if applying as a group
Have a bank account

What are Safety-Net Projects?

The LRAD programme is designed in such a way that beneficiaries will enter the system at various levels of production, viz.

Safety-net projects
This is the level at which beneficiaries will acquire land to produce mainly for own consumption.
Equity schemes
Members of a group will each contribute a certain amount towards accessing the grant. In turn, each member will own a certain percentage (share) of the project according to the degree of their contribution. This share is called equity, and it will be equal to the value of each individual's contribution plus the grant. These shareholders will be both co-owners and employees of the farm.
Production for markets
Some people will enter the programme at a much higher level than the ones mentioned above. These people will most probably have more farming experience as well as access to additional finance through normal bank loans as well as their own assets and cash to purchase bigger farms and therefore farm on a much larger scale.
Agriculture in communal areas
Quite a number of people in communal areas already have secure access to agricultural land, but may not have the money to start using that land productively. Such people will be allowed to apply for assistance to start putting up productive investments on the land. These kinds of projects may either be at the lower scale of production (safety-net projects) or higher up (production for markets).

What type of land am I allowed to buy under this Programme?

Any agricultural land in South Africa, regardless of its present tenure status, is potentially eligible for redistribution under this programme, except communally-held land in former homeland areas.

Can one obtain land and still be working somewhere else?

One of the requirements is that the applicant should be committed to farm on a full-time basis, except in the case of food safety-net projects, where the beneficiaries will only be producing enough for consumption.

What kind of assistance will I get from the Government after I have obtained land?

The Department of Agriculture has a post-settlement support services framework in place to assist farmers. Training will be provided periodically and field officers will be available in all districts to offer technical assistance to all farmers, emerging as well as commercial.

What kind of documentation will be expected from me?

Land use proposal/farm plan (project proposal).
An option to sell with an agreed price, if leasing with an option to buy.
A list of household members or group members, if the proposal is for a group.
Confirmation that the title to the land is clear, free from land claims, registered in the name of the seller and that the negotiated price is not higher that the appraised market price.
Evidence of availability of remainder of financing (own funds or contingent loan contract).
Valuation report.

Where can I go for assistance regarding the professional preparation of the above documentation?

Applicants may do all the planning themselves, or may choose to accept the assistance of a design agent. It is not compulsory to employ one if you feel that you can undertake and fulfil all the requirements. District officers will also assist applicants if needed.

If you decide to appoint a design agent, you can do so by accessing the list of agents at provincial land reform offices or provincial agricultural offices. These agents will then undertake all the necessary work and a planning grant will then be made available for their payment.

How do I start the process?

Call (+27 15) 295 7090 or consult your nearest Agricultural District offices.

Service Standards

Officials attend to all clients meetings on dates and venues most preferable to the clients even if it can be over week-ends.
District screening committee meeting for Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) projects are held monthly.
LRAD projects are evaluated at district level and submitted to the provincial grants Approval Committee within a month following recommendation by the District screening Committee.
Accurate data base kept with information being updated within 24 hours of new information being received.
Information on state land available for perusal by clients at all times within working hours.
Database of all farms on sale to be distributed to all tribal and agricultural offices.
Information on LRAD programme to be available at all tribal and agricultural offices.
Constant contact with beneficiaries is maintained through bi- monthly project level meeting.

Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA)

Decision on request for information is made within 30 days of the receipt of a request.
Database of requests is updated quarterly

Settlement/Land Acquisition Grant (SLAG)

Land classification are started on presettled restitution lands 7 days after being informed by Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC).
Project feasibility analysis reports are based on selected agricultural, enterprises are then compiled within a month for submission to RLCC.
Trained technicians are assigned within 15 days to projects to ensure that beneficiaries receive proper technical advises.
Projects are evaluated at district level and approved at provincial grants committee within a month after the project proposal has been drawn.
Constant contact with stakeholders is maintained through district screen committee meetings held monthly, and records of such meetings are kept.
Constant contact with beneficiaries is maintained through district officials on a day to day basis who are allocated to the project after approval.
Data base of the projects is updated within 24 hours of receiving new information.

Services

Head Office