18 farmers set to benefit from R105m Jobs funds
At least 18 job intensive farming enterprises are set to benefit from the R105 million Jobs Funds that is targeting Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) with the potential to create jobs.
In the 2019/20 financial year, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in collaboration with the Jobs Fund and Land Bank launched an Agriculture funding programme worth R104 337 362,17 in the Eastern Cape.
This is according to a report from the office of the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Chief Director for District Coordination Hamilton Ntsabo. The commodities earmarked to stimulate jobs consist of Poultry, Piggery, Smallstock, Beef, Macadamia, Citrus, Vegetables as well as Cotton, Ntsabo said in report – adding that “the grain commodity was not included.”
The Eastern Provincial Jobs Fund Programme is coordinated by Ntsabo who also represents the Province in the National Jobs Fund Committee where briefings between DRDAR, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development were held to outline and elaborate the initiative. Ntsabo says the Deputy Directors for economics are responsible for coordinating the programme at District level and this is done in collaboration with the affected farmers and sector stakeholders at large.
“The farming community was briefed extensively about the programme. Farmers were orientated about the Programme to an extent that they were assisted at ensuring that they understand the full requirements expected from them,” Ntsabo said.
He said, prior to submitting to the National Committee, the applications were submitted by the farmers to the District offices and the applications were pre-evaluated at the Provincial level in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. He says the evaluation of applications was done by the Jobs Fund National Committee and a team from DARLR led the physical assessment of farms in the Province where prospective applicants were assessed by team which comprised of provincial officials.
“The assessment of farms by the National team was intended to confirm facts outlined on the application documents. It was also an opportunity for the National team to assess commodities with potential to create much needed jobs in the Province,” he said. He said the National Committee evaluated all the applications and conclusions were reached after a lengthy process, where the prospective farming enterprises were nominated and are awaiting approval by national department.