NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 524
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [No 7-2012]
DATE OF PUBLICATION:  9 March 2012 

524. Mr R N Cebekhulu (IFP) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land             Reform:

(1)(a) How many distressed farmers have received (i) financial assistance and (ii) other forms of assistance from his department (aa) in the 2010-11 financial year and (bb) during the period 1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 and (b) what form of assistance was received in each case;

(2) whether (a) financial viability and (b) medium to long-term sustainability studies have been conducted in this regard; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW675E

THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM:

(1)(a)(i)-(ii) (aa) There are 411 farms in distress that received financial and other forms of assistance from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to the amount of R1 317 565 406.15 during the 2010-2011 financial year.

(bb) For the period 1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 a total of 595 projects were assisted including the farms that were assisted during the 2010-2011 financial year. In total financial assistance to the amount of R3 585 223 614.79 was provided.

(b) Assistance provided included financial and technical assistance in the form of contracted strategic partners, mentors and in some cases service providers to render services such as water reticulation etc.

(1)  Yes.

(a) and (b) Farms in distress are identified at the provincial level and an agricultural assessment report and a credible business plan developed for each farm to determine its status and future potential.

Issued by Parliament, August 13 2012

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