Agro Processing Support Scheme (APSS)

Agro Processing Support Scheme (APSS) is the dtic's cost-sharing route for South African agro-processing and beneficiation projects. It is built to expand capacity, modernize equipment, improve competitiveness, and support job creation inside the sector. The program is pre-investment focused, which means it is meant to help viable projects get under way rather than reimburse work that has already been done. Funding runs at 20 to 30 percent of qualifying costs, capped at R20,000,000 over two years, with an additional 10 percent bonus for projects that show strong economic benefits such as jobs, transformation, geographic development, or local procurement. Applicants need a business plan, a current budget, and three-year forecasts. Existing companies must provide audited financials less than 18 months old, and they cannot have reduced employment from the 12-month pre-application average. Final claims must land within six months after the last approved milestone. The route is rolling. APSS is most persuasive for operating businesses with a clear expansion plan in agro-processing or beneficiation and a project that can show a clean link between investment and economic gain. It rewards disciplined applicants that can document their numbers, keep the employment base stable, and show why the project deserves public co-funding. The strongest fit is a company that is ready to spend, build, and scale, not one still shaping the basic concept.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.