An investment of more than R1,3 million into a multi-purpose shearing shed at Bongweni Village in Ngqamakhwe has extensively improved the livelihood of farmers in the area who used to farm sheep for subsistence purposes.
The MEC for Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Nonkqubela Pieters, said that due to the investment from this department, farmers who are part of the Bongweni Woolgrowers Association are now able to trade commercially, competing with well-established sheep farmers.
She said that not only did the department build the fully-equipped shearing shed, but it also had given genetically superior rams to improve the quality of their flock. This investment is part of a multi-million rand investment by DRDAR into the Wool Commodity.
“DRDAR has invested immensely in this area. Treat the investment made by the department as a start-up capital to many business ventures. Through the department’s livestock improvement programme you have been assisted with rams of superior genetics so as to improve the quality of your flock, and ultimately its wool. Further to this, we continue to invest heavily in infrastructure development,” she said.
According to Pieters, the shearing shed handover bears testimony to the investment in the local farming community and the ball is now in the farmers’ court. She said that they had given them foundation, to help sustain this business.
“It is important to invest back in its operations by buying the latest equipment of wool harvesting, investing in security systems and the welfare of your flock.”
She further urged the farmers to sell their cattle while they were still young, and not wait till they were old. One of the beneficiaries, Nosiseko Mbangeleli, said that the investment into their businesses by DRDAR was life-changing. She said that before she joined the Bongweni Shearing Shed she only had 40 sheep but now her flock has increased five-fold.
“The rams that we received improved the quality of our flock. Our sheep now produce genetically superior lambs. When I joined this project I only had 40 sheep; now my flock has 220 sheep,” said Mbangeleli.
The department gave the Association 10 Dohne Merino rams in 2016; the genetic injection greatly improved the flock in the following year and they made 36 bales of wool which translated into an income of R340 000.
In 2019 they were given another 10 Merino rams by the department and 15 in 2022. In the 2022/23 shearing season the association produced 48 bales, giving them an income of R648 000.
“We used to use rondavels to shear our sheep and that was a challenge for us,” said chairperson of the business Mzimasi Gazi.
“Now have our own shed which has a presser, sorter and everything needed for shearing. The equipment will help us immensely because we will no longer hire a presser from other shearing sheds.”
– ISSUED BY DRDAR
