14 September 2023
By: Jasper Raats
There is only a day left for companies eligible for AgriSeta’s discretionary grants to apply for 2024. The closing date for applications is Friday, September 15.
Companies eligible for discretionary grants for skills development in the agricultural sector must submit their applications immediately.
All farms with a monthly payroll of more than R500 000 are required by law to contribute 1% of their payroll to the National Skills Fund and may apply for a discretionary grant for skills development and training of workers.
The Seta can pay out 49.5% of the funds collected through skills levies for training purposes. Everyone eligible and applying is considered for these grants, but payouts are at the discretion of the Seta, and not everyone benefits every year.
Training objectives for the sector are identified by the AgriSeta skills planning committee, and funds are allocated to achieve the goals of the annual skills development plan for the sector. An agreement on this plan is reached between AgriSeta and the Department of Higher Education.
Applications for discretionary grants can be made every year from August 1 to September 15.
All farms meeting AgriSeta’s requirements may apply each year for the compulsory grants, which amount to 20% of their contribution to the national skills levy.
To be eligible, an employer must be registered with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue under the Skills Development Act (Act 97 of 1998) and pay the skills levies.
The employer must submit a workplace skills plan and annual training reports by April 30 each year. Applications for the compulsory grants must also be submitted before April 30.
AgriSeta annually pays training grants to contributing as well as non-contributing employers, non-government organisations, community institutions, non-profit organisations, cooperatives, colleges, universities, and other institutions providing agricultural training.
