The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) is the Agriculture Department’s main funding mechanism for small-scale farmers who don’t meet the normal criteria for mainstream banks. Although it has been in use for over 20 years since it replaced the old Agricultural Credit Scheme, it has disbursed over R5 billion through provincial agricultural departments, some of it mired in controversy as it continues to evade accountability.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says CASP will be central to funding the hemp sector going forward and has promised closer oversight over how provinces spend their allocated funds.

He was at a 4 December 2024 briefing to the NCOP’s Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources it emerged that the Eastern Cape was the only province to have provided details of how CASP money was spent.  During the presentation, members of the committee expressed their concerns about the lack of transparency of how CASP used its money and who the beneficiaries were.

AP Farmer of the DA asked whether Coloured’s were eligible for CASP funding. Yes, is the answer. According the CUSP’s eligibility criteria, coloureds fall into the definition of black South Africans, as do Indians and Chinese, provided they have South African citizenship.  Afrikaans-speaking people of colour are welcome  to apply for funding, but forget about it if you’re white. And if there’s a fight between the land-owners, that also counts you out.

Who may apply?

So provided you fit into the above brackets, this is who may apply:

• smallholder farmers;

• agrarian reform beneficiaries;

• farm workers;

• self-help groups (SHGs)/co-operatives;

• small agribusinesses;

• farmers on communal land in a transition stage from subsistence to smallholder; •

• women and youth.

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Eligibility criteria

 • must be a South African citizen;

• must be from a historically disadvantaged group;

• should be black South African applicants (Indian, Coloured and Chinese included);

• must be 18 years or older;

• proof of tenure;

• access to services (water, electricity etc.);

• status of Farm Governance Systems—hence, the application form should indicate whether the owners are in conflict or not;

• managerial and technical skills—applicants should indicate their educational levels, qualifications, experience in running the enterprises and skills levels of the different labour categories.

Required documents

• ID.

• proof of address

• proof of legal access to land

• extension officer reports

• proof of access to water rights where applicable

There is no requirement for a business plan or funding motivation. Instead, applicants are encouraged to contact CASP representatives in each of the provinces.

CASP is the funder behind the missing Tarlton millions earmarked for a cannabis training scheme. Unless Minister Steenhuisen follows through with his oversight pledge, CASP will continue to be a cash cow for an elite benefiting out of agricultural financing. And while the Minister’s busy with oversight, he could equalize the criteria for funding along lines other than apartheid descriptions.