Applying for the Agro-Processing Support Scheme comes down to timing, a sound business case and complete paperwork. The single most expensive mistake is starting the project before you apply: costs incurred before your application is submitted do not qualify, so a processor who buys the machine first and applies afterwards has already lost the grant on that purchase.
This guide covers the application process. For what the scheme funds, the grant size and the six target sub-sectors, see what the Agro-Processing Support Scheme funds and who qualifies.
Step 1: Apply before you start
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition requires applications to be submitted before you begin the processing or beneficiation activities you are applying for. Plan your timeline around this: get quotations, prepare the application and submit it, then commit to the spend.
Step 2: Prepare the business plan
You need a completed application form and a business plan that shows the agro-processing or beneficiation activity, supported by projected financials covering at least three years. The projections must show the business is economically sustainable, not just that the new equipment will run.
Build in the economic benefit outcomes the dtic rewards, because projects that meet all of its criteria on employment, transformation, geographic spread and local procurement can receive an additional 10% on top of the standard 20% to 30% grant.
Step 3: Gather the supporting documents
- Financial statements. Existing businesses must supply their latest statements, reviewed by an independent external auditor or accredited person and not older than 18 months.
- Equipment and building quotations. Current quotations for everything the grant will help fund.
- Company compliance. Current registration and annual returns with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, and your tax affairs in order.
- Employment records. Your average employment over the past 12 months, because the approved business may not drop below that level during the incentive period.
Incomplete documentation is the most common reason applications stall, and compliance that lapses between preparing an application and submitting it catches many businesses out. Check everything is current on the day you submit.
Step 4: Submit through the online portal
From 1 June 2026, all applications must be submitted through the dtic’s Online Incentive Solution portal at oisportal.thedtic.gov.za. Emailed applications are no longer accepted.
Step 5: Plan the cash and the claims
The grant is cost-sharing and paid against claims, so in most cases you fund the purchase first and are reimbursed the approved share afterwards. Arrange that bridging finance before approval, not after. Businesses that win approval but cannot fund their side of the project lose the benefit.
The investment period runs for two years, and the final claim must be submitted within six months of the last approved milestone. Free help preparing an application is available through the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, which took over Seda’s role in the 2024 merger. Our explainer on what changed when Seda became SEDFA covers how to reach it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for the Agro-Processing Support Scheme?
Through the dtic’s Online Incentive Solution portal, which has been the only accepted channel since 1 June 2026.
Can I buy the equipment before applying?
No. Costs incurred before your application is submitted do not qualify, so apply first.
What financial statements are required?
Existing businesses need their latest statements, independently reviewed and not older than 18 months, plus at least three years of projected financials.
When is the grant paid?
Against claims after you have spent the money, so you usually need to fund the purchase upfront.
Is there a deadline for claims?
Yes. The final claim must be submitted within six months of the last approved milestone in the two-year investment period.
Originally published in July 2018. Updated September 2026.
