MEDIA STATEMENT
MINISTER DIDIZA ANNOUNCES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL EMPLOYMENT STIMULUS INITIATIVE FOR SUBSISTENCE PRODUCERS
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Didiza (MP), is pleased to announce that from 10 to 22 December 2020, all subsistence producers are invited to apply for Presidential Employment Stimulus initiative for subsistence producers. The application process will run for a period of two (2) weeks.
This programme is aimed at sustaining and increasing employment in the agricultural sector. In excess of 75 000 subsistence producers will be supported with farming input vouchers, to retain self-employment in the sector, while supporting food value chains.
During the implementation of this programme, the department will employ unemployed Narysec Youth and unemployed Agricultural Graduates to work as verification officers. This youth employment initiative will support the creation of jobs in excess of six thousand (6 000) temporary jobs.
“We are making this call a week before the official opening of the application process, so that all interested and qualifying subsistence producers can a have a week to prepare themselves. The application process will open from the 10th of December 2020 until 18th of December 2020. Applications will be through cell phones and through the departmental USSD code* 134*4536#, from any cell phone (irrespective of the cell phone network). This is a free application process and application forms will be accessible from your cell phone once you enter the USSD code. Application forms will be available in all 11 official languages. The Department will take 150 000 applications by using the USSD system. The principle of first come first serve per provinces will apply,” said Minister Didiza.
Qualifying Criteria The following minimum qualifying criteria will apply: Applicants should be 18 years old or older, have a South African ID, not employed by government, currently actively involved in agricultural production and not having received DALRRD support in the current financial year. Applicants are notified that only ONE application per household will be permitted. Specific targeted commodities that will be supported include vegetables, grains (maize and soybean), sugarcane, cotton, poultry and livestock.
The support will target vulnerable individuals and groups, and aims to support 50% Women, 40% Youth and 6% Persons with Disabilities. Child-headed households, Farm-dwellers, Farm-workers and Military Veterans will also be prioritised for support through this initiative and are encouraged to apply.
Subsistence farmers must note that the type and quantities of support provided will be limited to the commodity applied for and the size of the current operation physically verified on site. The amount of support will range between R1000 and R9000.
