by Olwetu Batyi | Sep 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
PIETERS DELIVERS SHEARING-SHEDS TO EC FARMERS
By Thozi ka Manyisana
GOVERNMENT infrastructure investment in the lucrative wool industry is creating a conducive
environment for communal and emerging farmers to participate meaningfully in one of the
province’s high potential industries that inject much needed income to the economy of the
Eastern Cape.
In pursuit of inclusive economic growth, Department of Rural Development and
Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters officially handed over some of the multi
purpose shearing sheds with dipping tanks, animal handling facilities, shearing equipment,
water tanks and ablution facilities to groups of farmers across the province.
In the 2020/21 financial year, DRDAR completed 13 shearing sheds, distributed 584 rams to
communal and emerging farmers of the Eastern Cape as part of its investment in the wool
production businesses of these farmers. A total of 437 farmers exported 4 million kilograms of
wool in the same year.
In the current financial year R22 million is invested in the construction
of 16 shearing sheds, with R15 million injected in the procurement and distribution of sheep and
goats with superior genetics to help improve the quality of the province’s wool clip.
“A lot has been done by the current government because today we see shearing sheds in the
village that can produce the same quality as commercial farmers,” said Pieters during one of the events where she handed keys to excited farmers.
Pieters was told stories by jovial farmers of how the new shearing sheds delivered them from struggles of shearing in rondavels and zinc structures with no shearing equipment. Drdar’s Extension officials are tasked with ensuring that wool grower’s associations don’t sell their wool to informal markets such as bakkies, popularly known as “Boya-Boya” but send their clip to credible companies and buyer BKB.
One of the wool growers benefiting from the Department’s investment is Nkosinathi Nunu, the Chairperson of Ensam Shearing Shed which was with DRDAR’s R900 000 investment. Nunu said: “It has been a long journey in the dark but today is the break of a new dawn. The old shed we built with iron sheets devalued our wool because it. had water leaks and we didn’t have proper equipment to prepare our wool for the market post shearing.”
He believes that with the dip tank that comes with the new shed built by DRDAR, their sheep will be free of diseases like the sheep scab that does not only affect the quality of their wool but also kills their sheep. Jubilant wool growers from Mtyatya village in Calawelcomed the R1.1 million worth multipurpose shearing shed that was handed over to them by Pieters. They said the new multi-purpose shearing shed infrastructure will not only assist them to produce quality wool but will also improve the lives of their flock as it includes a dipping tank. “I would be jumping up and down now if I was still young to show you how happy I am with the delivery of this structure. It has
always been my dream that this shed should be built and finished while I am still alive and able to
see,” said local veteran wool grower, Qiqi Tibisano. As part of ongoing efforts to expand construction of agriculture infrastructure to grow the economy, the DRDAR joined forces with Intsika Yethu local municipality in the construction of the Ncora Flats Shearing Shed. At this shed, DRDAR focused on the drainage system, a dipping tank and the animal handling facility. “As the Eastern Cape government this is the encouragement we need from our farmers, to be initiators (Vukuzenzele) so that we support ambitious people and take them further,” said Pieters during the handover. One of the beneficiaries, Lonwabo Nelani said: ” We have waited for so long for this day, which means the official opening of our factory and our legacy to use. We are grateful for what our fathers left for us and we will always take good care of it”. On other hand, Sibanye Stillwater injected R1,2 million in the construction of the Silulutho Shearing Shed in Ngudle village in Tsomo as part of its community development programme where it develops communities in partnership with government departments like the DRDAR. There are many other shearing sheds in the province that
will be opened and handed over to farmers as and when they are completed by contractors hired by
the DRDAR to build them for farmers.
by Olwetu Batyi | Sep 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
Mazie, veggie farmer encourages women to join agriculture
ZIMASA NTLANGULA, one of the members of Amantonta Agro processing family cooperative in Ntabankulu says she never imagined herself in the agriculture sector.
Excited by the bountiful harvest of their business from production funded by the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Ntlangula said when her parents and siblings started their maize production business in the Mvenyane village of Ntabankulu in the Eastern Cape, she did not join them until her love for agriculture was stirred up by the work they put in the business and opportunities created by the enterprise.
Ntlangula said at first she had no interest in the agriculture business but when she looked at the business in the first year and saw its progress, she decided to join forces with her family. “In the early stages of the business there were ups and downs. There were times where I felt like giving up but we realised that our dream will manifest. So this and lack of job opportunities here also attracted me to the business,” said Ntlangula, adding that in their family business every member contributes to the hard work.
As a young woman, Ntlangula said she is happy that women are free to do any work in the country. “When we were growing up our mothers did not have these opportunities. They depended on our fathers but now I feel free because I can do any job I want to do without anyone blocking me and even telling me what to do,” she said.
With their business harvesting 6 tonnes per hectare from 350 hectares of land in Mvenyane, she said: “I am happy that we are harvesting this tonnage because in the beginning this land was fallow.
At first we were not certain we would be able to accomplish what we wanted to do; but now here is our great harvest. It makes us very excited. This harvest shows that we know what we are doing.”
She encourages other women, especially young women to take up opportunities in the agriculture sector, throwing a caveat that agriculture is not an easy business. “It is tough in this business but if you are committed you can do it. Don’t put money first, focus on producing. See what your produce will give you. Don’t put money first, it will come later. You must commit to the agriculture work and have passion for it. I encourage other women to take up agriculture,” said Ntlangula
by Olwetu Batyi | Sep 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
Thobeka’s stud breeding
WITH just two years producing vegetables sold to retail stores nationwide, Thobeka Tebe, 45,now is producing stud breeding of precious sheep and cattle breeds. Tebe is pinning herhopes on the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform’s support to farmers, in particular the livestock improvement scheme.
Tebe runs a 350ha farm in the GubenxaValley just outside Elliot, 300ha is grazing pastures and she grows crops and livestockfeed on 50ha. She farms South African Merino sheep and Boran cattle breeds that are bothprized for high resilience and survive on lower quality forage than most other breeds.
“I never went to school to study agriculture but it was sheer love for nature and breeding that brought me to the sector. I can attribute my progress to being willing to learn from those who have traversed this road before me and it’s giving handsome returns from crops to livestock, I now want to make a mark on stud breeding,” said Tebe.
According to Tebe, Boran cattle are known for their fertility, early maturation, adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions, parasites and grow quite old, with cows of fifteen years of age still yielding good quality offspring. With these characteristics she said the breed has a potential to reduce the burden of feed costs to farmers especially in a country that has been gripped by feed shortages due to drought and climatic changes.
“There’s quite a few breeders of Boran in our province and I only know them from East London, Graaff-Reinet and Fort Beaufort, but none of them is a woman. My cattle are also registered with the Boran Society –something which makes me a reliable and recognised breeder,” she added. Following last season’s sale of some of her animals, Tebe is left with 20 cattle – cows, heifers and a single three-year-old bull named Madlabantu and plans to increase her herd.
“If I can get just one more Boran bull and a few heifers I would be fine because Madlabantu is still young and doing his job just well. The other bull would take care of the new heifers. And I depend on a single ram for my flock. I hope the DRDAR comes to my aid with more ewes and rams so
that I can be able to supply even other farmers who want to venture into these low-maintenance yet prized breeds,” she said.
Apart from stud breeding, Tebe sells her livestock to both formal and informal markets in and around the Joe Gqabi District with her wool sold overseas through market agents. Tebe recently relayed her ambitions to the DRDAR MEC Nonkqubela Pieters during her meeting with farmers of the Gubenxa Valley.Pieters advised them to continue applying for support from the department
and ensure that they follow the instructions outlined in the adverts and comply with them.
“The issue with many, not all, is compliance. For instance, Tebe had applied for fencing last year but she didn’t have the required documentation for the lease of the land she is working. Let’s continuously work on compliance and in due time, everyone who is deserving will be assisted because the list is quite long,” said Pieters.
DRDAR has so far assisted Tebe with training towards the South African Good Agricultural
Practices certificate (GAP), potato seeds and advisory support.
by Olwetu Batyi | Sep 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
EC households milk more goats and sheep than cattle, Surveys
More households in the Eastern Cape province milk goats and sheep more than cattle, a survey by
scientists working at the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform’s Dohne. Agriculture Development Institute has found.
Speaking about the results of the survey, one of the scientists, Dr Jean Rust said: “the actual milk
production in litres per household per day in all livestock species across all districts is very low for
cattle and surpassingly popular for goats and sheep.”
For this survey, Rust worked with other scientists, Mr Mabutho Mkhungela and Mr Tinashe Kumburai.
Rust said the availability, manageability, lower maintenance of goats and sheep can potentially
play a role in this regard, adding that though there seemed to be some potential for communal
household milk production, serious development was needed for sustainability. Rust said the survey,
which was conducted between June 2014 and May 2015 was aimed at getting a better understanding of milk production and consumption dynamics in the Eastern Cape province.
A total of 500 households in the five districts of Amathole, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani, Oliver Tambo and Joe Gqabi drawn from 5 communities per district, 20 households per community and 100 households per district participated in the survey.
“Household characteristics, production system characteristics and production levels are very similar
across the different districts. Members supported by households were surprisingly high,” said Rust. The survey also found that households owning these animals which are miles for their consumption had a good record of arable land allocated to them, however no record of communal grazing land available to each household.
He said the main reason for milking the animals was for their own consumption and the number of animals used per household for milking for consumption are very low, ranging from
by Olwetu Batyi | Sep 12, 2022 | Uncategorized
Four silos to help farmer get better price for maize produce
By Thozi kaManyisana
One of leading women grain farmers in the Easstern Cape, Ms Zoliwe Nombewu is hoping to make huge profits from her maize harvest thanks to the four temporary silos the the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), which allow her to store maize to sell at the right time.
Award-winning Nombewu from Gotyibeni village praised DRDAR for supporting her with four 130 tons temporary silos with its auger feeder.
“The temporary silos will ensure I get huge profits because I’ll store my maize until the market price has risen. Before this support, I’d sell my maize while it is still cheap and I’d lose out but now I’ll keep and wait. My maize used toon the fields when I didn’t have silos if I kept it until prices were high. “The department’s intervention will make me grow and become a sustainable commercial farmer while I’m in the communal areas. I’m where I am as a business person because of the support from the department,” she said.
For a person who started farming with vegetable production on only two hectares of land in 2008, Nombewu is a force to be reckoned with as she now produce maize and dry beans on 300ha of land. She has also planted 5ha to motivate the community of Madwaleni village where she has leased the land she’s working.
On top of the silos, DRDAR has been supported her with production inputs to plant 64ha of maize through its flagship cropping programme. She was also assisted with a borehole for vegetable production as well as vegetable seedlings to continue producing on the 2ha of land she started with.
The farmer owns a fleet of 12 tractors, a combined harvester, 4 no-till planters, 12 ploughs, four discs, four 800 litre C sprayers, potato planter and its planter and a fine seed planter for vegetables. Her tractors were last year contracted by DRDAR through its partnership with Grain SA.
Nombewu was approached by subsistence farmers in the Madwaleni area to help them fence and plant their fallow land, which she did. She said when the land was tested it was discovered that it was not in good condition but she invested in lime and quality fertilizer.
“The results are now amazing,” she said. She sells her products to local agricultural products wholesalers in Mthatha, Qumbu and Tsolo as wells as local people.
