Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP)

Cabinet approved the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) on 12 August 2009.

The CRDP is focused on enabling rural people to take control of their lives, with support from government.

The programme aims to deal with rural poverty effectively through the optimal use and management of natural resources through an integrated agrarian transformation and the strategic investment in economic and social infrastructure that will benefit rural communities.

In five years, the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform had succeeded in helping to create a better life for millions of residents in villages throughout South Africa by providing food for the hungry, stimulating local economies, establishing jobs and reducing poverty.

In an effort to improve the economy, the DRDLR acquired and distributed 834 134 hectares of land throughout the country. To ensure sustained production on land provided by government, 712 067 smallholder producers, including those under the RADP, were supported through various initiatives including access to information.

Another 10 271 resources-poor historically disadvantaged producers were given support that enabled them to access water and 2 073 water-use licences were finalised, enabling the farmers to irrigate their land.

A total of 33 341 smallholder producers were assisted to access markets and 1 284 producer co-operatives and marketing depots were established to increase their competitiveness and take advantage of market opportunities.

More than one million household and institutional and community gardens were established. Food was distributed to 2,8 million people through the Food for All Programme including community nutrition development centres. About nine million learners gained access to nutritious food through the School Nutrition Programme.

Infrastructure development has contributed to 503 365 households gaining access to clean running water; about one million gaining access to sanitation and just above 11 million gaining access to electricity.

Source: SA Yearbook 2015/2016

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