Drought-hit cattle farmers in the Eastern Cape have been urged to bring their struggling animals to private and government-supported feedlots.Mlibo Qoboshiyane, MEC for rural development and agrarian reform, announced that custom feeding facilities and temporary feeding facilities would be set up in the district municipalities of Amathole, Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Sarah Baartman and OR Tambo.
Details are sketchy, but Agri Eastern Cape president Dougie Stern said agri-parks could be used.
In ravaged Aliwal North, farmers were selling off stock, sometimes as much as 40% of their herd, said former Aliwal North Farmers’ Association chairman Bertus Bekker.
On Monday, Thozi kaManyisana, Qoboshiyane’s spokesman, released two statements on his MEC’s response to the crisis but did not answer calls or e-mails asking for more details.
Qoboshiyane, speaking after an emotional prayer service at the 12 Apostles church in Queenstown last month attended by leaders of Agri EC, the National African Farmers’ Union, the African Farmer’s Association of SA, and Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, announced a R33-million raft of drought relief measures.
In announcing his department’s custom feeding programme, Qoboshiyane stressed that “farmers must take their livestock to the nearest feedlot so that they can at least make a profit out of the livestock they sell”.
Dougie Stern said of Qoboshiyane: “He is the one guy who actually wants to help and we appreciate him coming forward with ideas. Feedlots are absolutely fine. Rather than see animals die, approach a feedlot to take the animals in and dispose of them.
“Farmers don’t have money for food.”
He said Qoboshiyane’s department had mobilised 150 tons of feed over Christmas, but privately-owned feedlots would have to be approached to work out how to take in livestock.
Stern said Qoboshiyane had told unions the drought had killed 5000 cattle, 3000 sheep and 2 000 goats.
Farmers had run out of grazing and more livestock were expected to die.
Bekker said rainfall had been varied. “Some places got 120mm, others close by only got 20mm.The bulls are now with the cows and things are looking better in some areas, but the conception rate is very low.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Plans in place to help drought-ravaged areas
Mlibo Qoboshiyane, MEC for rural development and agrarian reform, announced that custom feeding facilities and temporary feeding facilities would be set up in the district municipalities of Amathole, Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Sarah Baartman and OR Tambo.
Details are sketchy, but Agri Eastern Cape president Dougie Stern said agri-parks could be used.
In ravaged Aliwal North, farmers were selling off stock, sometimes as much as 40% of their herd, said former Aliwal North Farmers’ Association chairman Bertus Bekker.
On Monday, Thozi kaManyisana, Qoboshiyane’s spokesman, released two statements on his MEC’s response to the crisis but did not answer calls or e-mails asking for more details.
Qoboshiyane, speaking after an emotional prayer service at the 12 Apostles church in Queenstown last month attended by leaders of Agri EC, the National African Farmers’ Union, the African Farmer’s Association of SA, and Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, announced a R33-million raft of drought relief measures.
In announcing his department’s custom feeding programme, Qoboshiyane stressed that “farmers must take their livestock to the nearest feedlot so that they can at least make a profit out of the livestock they sell”.
Dougie Stern said of Qoboshiyane: “He is the one guy who actually wants to help and we appreciate him coming forward with ideas. Feedlots are absolutely fine. Rather than see animals die, approach a feedlot to take the animals in and dispose of them.
“Farmers don’t have money for food.”
He said Qoboshiyane’s department had mobilised 150 tons of feed over Christmas, but privately-owned feedlots would have to be approached to work out how to take in livestock.
Stern said Qoboshiyane had told unions the drought had killed 5000 cattle, 3000 sheep and 2 000 goats.
Farmers had run out of grazing and more livestock were expected to die.
Bekker said rainfall had been varied. “Some places got 120mm, others close by only got 20mm.The bulls are now with the cows and things are looking better in some areas, but the conception rate is very low.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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