Staff Reporter
The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says it will use conditional grants to roll out several projects and programmes to support farmers and make their operations more viable.
Agriculture MEC William Bulwane told the provincial Legislature during a virtual sitting Tuesday that despite significant cuts to their initial allocation, the department planned to implement over 30 projects.
He said for the 2020/21 financial year, the province initially received about R176.2 million under the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) but this has since been revised to just under R143.4 million following some reprioritisation to address COVID-19 related matters.
“With this allocation we are planning to implement 31 projects and eight programmes,” Bulwane said in his supplementary budget vote speech.
“We will create 584 jobs (295 permanent jobs and 289 temporary jobs) benefiting 1 082 beneficiaries,” he added.
The MEC said at least 538 females and 441 males will be supported.
About 102 youths have also been earmarked as well as one person with a disability.
Overall, 1 242 farmers are set to benefit, of which 943 are subsistence and 299 smallholder farmers.
The other conditional grant, Ilima/Letsema, was reduced from about R68.4 million to R51.3 million.
“We are planning to implement 37 projects and five programmes and create 309 jobs,” Bulwane said.
About 98 of the jobs to be created will be permanent while 211 will be temporary.
The total number of beneficiaries is expected to be 26 122, made up of 13 096 females and 13 026 males.
About 7 015 youths and 30 people with disabilities are also set to benefit.
The grant will support 11 503 farmers of which 11 416 are subsistence, 76 smallholder and 11 commercial farmers.
A further 12 LandCare projects and an Expanded Public Works Programme will also be implemented.
The two are funded separately to the tune of R8.4 million and R2 million respectively.
Bulwane said the department will also focus on the completion of infrastructure projects, commonage development and Solar Solution Feed Growers to enhance fodder flow management.
In terms of promoting the district development model, the provincial agricultural department will prioritise supporting farming and agri-business projects in all districts.
“In Mangaung Metro we have set aside R34.174 million for the implementation of livestock and vegetable projects,” the MEC said.
“In Xhariep we have set aside R13.6 million for the implementation of livestock, irrigation, fish, game, fodder and vegetable production.
“In Thabo Mofutsanyana we have set aside R7.6 million for the implementation of dairy, poultry, grains, fruits and livestock projects.”
Lejweleputswa has a budget of just over R15 million for the implementation of poultry, grain, sorghum and vegetable projects.
Fezile Dabi has R29.5 million for poultry, goats, grains and vegetable projects.