It is raining support for subsistence farmers this week. Not only has minister Thoko Didiza announced the R1 billion- Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative, but female farmers will soon benefit from an additional programme.
Food For Mzansi can confirm that the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development will launch a new covid-19 agricultural disaster support fund valued at R1,35 million. This is targeted at female producers following a cash injection by Total SA.
Didiza confirms in a statement that the fund is projected to support 36 female farmers in the subsistence and smallholder categories who are in dire distress as a result of financial losses suffered due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The selected women also form part of a group of beneficiaries who previously reaped benefits from the department’s Female Entrepreneur Awards initiative.
“This support will go a long way in strengthening and reaffirming the significances of the partnership between Total SA and the department towards advancing women empowerment in the sector, thereby also affording women an opportunity to contribute towards food security, job creation and poverty alleviation,” Didiza said.
Details of the R1,35 million cash injection for female farmers is set to be announced on Thursday, 10 December 2020 at 12:00. This is on the same day that applications for the R1 billion- Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative will officially open.
READ MORE: Do you qualify for financial support from government?
