It was a joyful occasion for cattle farmers from Tsolo, which falls under Mhlontlo Local Municipality, after being given bulls and heifers by the Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency, as part of its Heifer Exchange and Bull Loaning programme.
The Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency was established by the OR Tambo District Municipality as a service utility, to serve as a special purpose vehicle responsible for spearheading local economic development in the OR Tambo District.
The entity has since been converted to a State-Owned Company (SOC Ltd).
The handing over of the cattle was held at Mzikantu Red Meat Abattoir in Zimbane, Mthatha, on March 8.
“The heifers and bulls we handed over to farmers are produced at Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency farms in Underberg, in KwaZulu-Natal.
“This support is extended to livestock farmers who are already farming, passionate about farming, and are running their farming ventures commercially,” said Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency chief executive, Loyiso Mbiko.
Mbiko said that the programme involved loaning bulls to farmers for four years, and taking them back or replacing them after the period had lapsed, while also giving farmers heifers in exchange for oxen.
Twenty heifers and three bulls were given to farmers during the latest handover, on March 8.
“Over the years we have been running the programme successfully, and last year alone we distributed 86 cattle across the district through this initiative,” said Mbiko.
Tsolo cattle famer, and recipient of three heifers and a bull, Mbongeni Vunguvungu, said that the cattle he received will improve the quality of the livestock.
“The bull and heifers I have received will improve the quality of my livestock which will mean more of my cattle will go to abattoirs for beef production.
“I have already seen a positive impact of Ntinga’s bull loaning and heifer exchange programme from the bull they previously loaned me, which led to an increase in the number of my livestock, as well as the genetic quality of my cattle,” said Vunguvungu.
OR Tambo District Municipality deputy executive mayor, Thokozile Sokhanyile, implored recipients of the bulls and heifers to take care of them so that they can serve the purpose they were intended for.
“Last week we hosted visitors from West Africa, and they were looking for beef from farmers under the district municipality. The cattle you are being given today must enable you to produce beef to meet the demand from such foreign markets,” Sokhanyile said.
She further called on Ntinga management to constantly monitor the livestock given to famers, to ensure that it had the intended impact on livestock quality of farmers under the district municipality.
Sokhanyile said they were working on ensuring that the Umzikantu Red Meat Abattoir was upgraded and fitted with modern equipment, to support the development of farmers under the OR Tambo District Municipality.
