Black farmers with sufficient grazing land and facilities are being sought by the government‚ who are trying to find suitable candidates for its Nguni cattle project.
The project involves the loaning of 30 pregnant Nguni heifers and one bull to emerging black farmers for breeding – under strict conditions. After a period of five years‚ participating farmers are expected to return the same amount of cattle (offspring) or an equivalent rand value.
The initiative‚ which aims to eventually increase the supply of local beef and to stimulate the rural beef economy‚ has also been piloted in other provinces‚ including the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
According to Tiso Blackstar archives‚ cattle in poor communities are an unproductive asset‚ accounting for 40% of the national herd but contributing only 5% to the country’s gross domestic product from beef.
The criteria for participation include a clean bill of health for existing farm animals‚ proof of land suitable for cattle farming‚ a minimum of 500 hectares in size‚ with sufficient grazing and basic infrastructure like fences‚ water facilities and feeding equipment for supplements and camps.
This is the second intake of qualifying black farmers for the project. The Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Trust is a partnership of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD)‚ the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the University of Pretoria (UP).
Applications close on 30 June 2015. On the web: www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
Government in bid to improve cattle breeding
The project involves the loaning of 30 pregnant Nguni heifers and one bull to emerging black farmers for breeding – under strict conditions. After a period of five years‚ participating farmers are expected to return the same amount of cattle (offspring) or an equivalent rand value.
The initiative‚ which aims to eventually increase the supply of local beef and to stimulate the rural beef economy‚ has also been piloted in other provinces‚ including the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
According to Tiso Blackstar archives‚ cattle in poor communities are an unproductive asset‚ accounting for 40% of the national herd but contributing only 5% to the country’s gross domestic product from beef.
The criteria for participation include a clean bill of health for existing farm animals‚ proof of land suitable for cattle farming‚ a minimum of 500 hectares in size‚ with sufficient grazing and basic infrastructure like fences‚ water facilities and feeding equipment for supplements and camps.
This is the second intake of qualifying black farmers for the project. The Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Trust is a partnership of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD)‚ the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the University of Pretoria (UP).
Applications close on 30 June 2015. On the web: www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos