Sheep farmers of Mhlontlo in the Eastern Cape recently celebrated the official handover of ten brand-new shearing sheds in different local villages within the municipality.
Eastern Cape rural development and agrarian reform MEC Nonkqubela Pieters travelled to the municipality, located within the OR Tambo district, on Friday (30 September 2022) to launch the shearing sheds around Tsolo and Qumbu, where farmers said that the new facilities will help them improve their businesses.
Farmers are looking forward to selling better quality wool using the new facilities that include not only the sheds but also shearing equipment, a small flock dipping tank at each location, a fence around the premises and enough medicine for 3 000 animals.
Pieters also used the occasion to hand over 120 rams to local farmers, which will be used to improve the genetics of local wool growers’ flocks.
Nozipho Tokuzwayo, one of the beneficiary farmers and wool growers, said that local producers were very happy and excited for the future as they had previously used their own homes for shearing.
“Our wool was contaminated by dirt. We are happy and excited because … we now have a good structure for shearing and our wool is clean.”
Tokuzwayo’s colleague, Mandlovandile Rala, agreed with her and said that the sheds, sorting facilities, and rams will help farmers fetch better prices for their wool.
Investment in farmers
Pieters said the department made this investment to help farmers meet the needs of the wool market.
“We invested R10.9 million in the construction of these ten shearing sheds in Mhlontlo alone. When we hand over shearing sheds, we don’t just give farmers an empty building, we include shearing equipment that farmers need … to sort their wool [and to] press it properly so that they [don’t need] their kids to press it using their feet.
Farmers will also be able to weigh each grower’s clip and distribute sales money accordingly.
Pieters added that the Mhlontlo farmers who produce crops like grain will also get support in the form of mechanisation, seeds, and fertiliser.
ALSO READ: Eastern Cape feedlots helping rural farmers level up
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain
