The programme, led by MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe, aims to provide subsistence and smallholder farmers with support for livestock, crop, and household food production, as well as infrastructure development.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Kontsiwe said the programme catered to farmers operating at different scales, from those producing food for their households to smallholders farming for profit.
She explained that applicants needed to provide supporting documentation relevant to their farming operations, which could include bank statements, business plans, and proof of access to land, depending on the category of support they were applying for.
Support for a range of farming activities
According to Kontsiwe, under the livestock production category, farmers can apply for genetic improvement support through the provision of quality breeding animals, including rams, ewes, heifers and bulls.
The programme also supports various agricultural commodity projects, including poultry, piggery, grain, horticulture, red meat, and wool production.
For crop production, farmers can apply for production inputs such as seed, fertiliser, and agrochemicals, as well as mechanisation support for farming operations.
For household food production, support is available for homestead gardens. This category aims to help households produce their own food while potentially generating surplus produce for sale.
Infrastructure support covers a range of needs, including boreholes, fencing, irrigation equipment, poultry and piggery structures, marketing infrastructure, shearing sheds, and dipping tanks.
Kontsiwe said farmers could apply for assistance across multiple categories in the same financial year, depending on their needs and the programme’s requirements. The extent of support available to individual farmers would be determined by their business plans and assessed requirements.
Application assessment
Applications are assessed at local, district, provincial, and national levels. New applicants are welcome, and farmers who have previously received assistance may also apply for further support.
Kontsiwe said that applying does not guarantee that a farmer will receive assistance.
“The number [of farmers] to be supported is going to be informed by the number of applications versus the budget and ongoing projects,” she explained.
Farmers should therefore ensure their applications clearly outline their production needs and intended use of the requested support, with the relevant supporting documentation included.
Emerging farmers seeking support for the 2027/28 financial year must submit their applications by 30 October 2026.
Application forms are available on the department’s social media platforms and at its local offices.
Kontsiwe encouraged prospective applicants to approach their nearest departmental office for guidance on the application requirements.
