A total of R1-billion has been made available for a new micro agriculture finance scheme for emerging farmers and beneficiaries of land reform.

In his Budget speech to Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said the scheme would provide "further assistance" to these two groups.

"An amount of R1-billion is available for this initiative of which R600-million is expected to be allocated over the next five years," he said.

In terms of the Budget Review, the Department of Agriculture receives additional allocations of R200-million, R300-million and R450-million in the medium term to support the agricultural black economic empowerment initiative and the micro-agriculture financing scheme.

Total allocations to agriculture in the budget at national level rises to R1.68-billion in 2004/05 from R1.4-billion in 2005/06.