A PROJECT unveiled by President Jacob Zuma to help emerging farmers has had a troubled start, sparking tensions between Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and her director-general, Langa Zita.

Sowetan has learnt that Joemat-Pettersson had instructed Zita to implement Zuma's Masibambane Rural Development Project aimed at helping small farmers.

She also asked Zita to roll out another project aimed at supplying tractors to struggling farmers.

Zita is believed to have raised questions about the directives.

Sources within the department have told Sowetan that the relationship between the two had deteriorated to the point where Zita's future was uncertain.

He had a three-year contract, including a 12-month probation period. He completed a year at the end of September. But Joemat-Pettersson has apparently as a result of the tensions not signed him for the remainder.

Zita has downplayed the tensions. He said though he held different views from his boss, they got along well.

"We work fairly well together," he said.

Departmental spokesman Selby Bokaba said Zita failed to submit his performance agreement on time to the minister three months after his appointment.

"So there was a technical glitch that affected the timeous submission of the DG's performance agreement. A process is under way to constitute a panel to evaluate the DG's performance agreement.

"This process will lead to the finalisation of his appointment," Bokaba said.

He said both the minister and Zita worked well together and "rumours of tension are malicious, spread by people who want to distract us from our set objectives".

But sources close to both Joematt-Pettersson and Zita claimed that the minister wanted him fired.