The council is funded mainly from government transfers and income generated from applied research and other projects. Revenue increased from R761.7 million in 2008/09 to R1 billion in 2011/12, at an average annual rate of 10.1 per cent, and is expected to increase to R1.3 billion over the medium term, at an average annual rate of 9.5 per cent. The growth in revenue has been driven mainly by increased government transfers to fund new agricultural research programmes, the upgrading and replacing of ageing machinery and equipment, and the construction of a factory for manufacturing a vaccine against foot and mouth disease. As part of the economic competitiveness and support package, R400 million has been allocated to the council over the MTEF period for research into crop production, production of animal vaccines, extension services for smallholder farmers, university research, and maintenance of national collections/gene banks.