By Staff Writer
Gauteng’s agro-processing sector has long been recognised as a vital driver of local employment, food security, and economic transformation. Now, a major funding opportunity has opened for black-owned enterprises ready to scale and compete in high-value markets. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), in partnership with the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), has launched the GDARD/NEF Agro-processing Blended Finance Programme – a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating growth, promoting value-addition, and strengthening agricultural value chains across the province.
How the Blended Funding Works
This funding programme is designed to support emerging and established agro-processing businesses that need financial backing to modernise facilities, improve efficiencies, and expand market reach. Many black entrepreneurs struggle to access affordable capital, and the blended model removes barriers by combining non-repayable grant funding (30%) with concessional loans at preferential interest rates (70%). This allows entrepreneurs to reduce their debt burden while gaining access to sustainable financing linked to their business’s cashflow and project milestones.
Funding Available
Successful applicants may qualify for funding of up to R10 million per project: R3 million in grant financing and up to R7 million in concessional loans. This scale of investment empowers businesses to automate systems, purchase modern equipment, upgrade cold-chain infrastructure, secure compliance certifications, and build capacity for domestic and export markets. In doing so, the programme supports long-term industrialisation and inclusive economic transformation.
Who the Programme Supports
The GDARD/NEF funding is available specifically for agro-processing and value-addition projects operating in Gauteng. Supported sectors span the breadth of agricultural produce, from cereals, grains, fruit, vegetables, meat and poultry, to aquaculture, dairy, bakery products, beverages, herbs, spices and compliant hemp and cannabis processing. Eligible enterprises must add measurable value to raw agricultural goods, such as through drying, bottling, grinding, fermenting, packaging or food safety enhancements.
Eligibility: Who Qualifies
While the funding is significant, qualifying businesses must meet strict eligibility criteria. Applicants must be at least 51% black-owned and actively managed by black individuals in accordance with South Africa’s B-BBEE legislation. Businesses must be formally incorporated under the Companies Act or the Co-operatives Act, and must be based and actively operating in Gauteng. Regulatory compliance, tax clearance, municipal licensing, UIF and COIDA registration, and valid offtake agreements with credible buyers are also required. These criteria ensure that approved projects have market demand, credible governance and long-term viability.
Key Application Dates
The application window for blended financing closes on 17 January 2026, and interested businesses are strongly encouraged to begin preparation immediately.
What Applicants Need to Prepare
The online submission process requires full documentation, including company registrations, B-BBEE verification, tax clearance, audited financials or bank statements, business plans and five-year projections. Applicants must also submit technical information such as production flows, supplier agreements and signed offtake contracts or letters of intent demonstrating market access. Where necessary, approvals for zoning, building plans, environmental compliance and water rights must also be included.
Additional Support and Information
In support of the process, applicants were invited to attend an information webinar earlier in December where NEF and GDARD officials outlined application procedures and answered questions. For those unable to attend, the programme document remains available for download and provides valuable guidance on preparing an application that meets due-diligence requirements.
A Call to Action for Agro-Processors
For Gauteng’s agro-processing entrepreneurs, the GDARD/NEF blended finance programme represents more than funding: it is an opportunity to strengthen local agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses, build competitive value-added products, and create employment in black-owned supply chains. Through strategic investment and compliance support, the initiative seeks to unlock market access and position local processors for participation in regional and global markets.
Businesses that meet the qualifying criteria and are ready to scale are encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity. As South Africa prioritises food security and industrial growth, the time is now for agro-processors to invest in innovation, equipment, skills development and market competitiveness. Applicants can find the call for proposals and full submission details on the NEF website and GDARD communication platforms.
