Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters says the new shearing sheds she handed over in Tsolo and Qumbu villages recently will help sheep farmers who are also wool growers, as they will now sell pure quality wool, using the structures.
A total of 10 shearing sheds have been handed over by Pieters recently to sheep farmers in Tsolo and Qumbu villages, which fall under the Mhlontlo Local Municipality.
She says the facilities are meant to assist sheep farmers improve their herd and improve the quality of their wool, to meet the quality needed by the markets.
“We invested over R10 million in the construction of these 10 shearing sheds in Mhlontlo Local Municipality alone.
“When we build these facilities, we don’t just give farmers an empty building, we include shearing equipment that farmers need, like sorting tables to sort their wool, press it properly and the scales to weigh their wool because the money they get from selling their wool is according to their wool weight and quality,” Pieters said.
Pieters further handed over 121 rams to local farmers, which will be used to improve the genetic condition of local flock by local wool growers.
She also announced that her department has handed over 30 bulls to farmers under Mhlontlo Local Municipality to improve the quality of their herd and increase numbers.
Local sheep farmer and wool grower, Nozipho Tokuzwayo, will improve the quality of their wool, as they previously used their homes to shear their sheep, which negatively affected the wool’s quality.
“Our wool got contaminated by dirt because we had no proper facility to sheer our sheep. We are happy and excited because since the construction of our shearing shed, we now have a good structure for shearing and our wool is clean.”
“The rams we got from government contributed a lot in improving the quality of our wool clip.
“As a result, we now get good money for our wool because of these rams that give us better quality wool,’ Tokuzwayo said.
Besides shearing equipment that comes with each of the shearing sheds, each wool growers association also received a structure that comes with a small flock dipping tank, fence and medicine for 3 000 sheep.
