E Cape farmer takes delivery of more than 1,000 calves
A Gubenxa farmer is set to make an estimated R1.3m in three months through the rural agro-industrial finance (Rafi) beef programme, following the delivery of 1,154 weaners on Friday.
The Chris Hani District Centre (CDC) championing the programme hosted the official relocation of the calves to Lundi Delano Kama’s farm, a move that will possibly strengthen economic spin-offs in the Chris Hani district area.
Kama is the first beneficiary to have signed a service level agreement involving this many weaners delivered to a single farmer, with the purpose of raising, feeding and increasing the animals’ weight.
His Qwathi-Tolo farm in Gubenxa is about 1,803ha and has 360ha of cultivable land suited for fodder production for the weaners.
CDC chief executive Abongile Hala said the partnering farmers allowed the delivered cattle to graze on their land, and stood to receive 10% of the calves’ production and benefit from a skills transfer opportunity.
“The remaining 90% goes back to the programme so that other smallscale farmers can benefit as well. We are also planning to have a feedlot in a strategic place around here so that, from there, the cattle can be taken to an abattoir for processing.
“The programme gives local farmers the opportunity to commercialise their production for better economic spin-offs. The Eastern Cape has about 3-million cows and contributes more than 28% in the cattle breeding industry nationally.
“It is important that we either maintain or improve on this, and this programme will assist in that,” Hala said.
He said the farmer would make an estimated profit of just over R1m from the project over the next three months.
Kama said if it were not for the CDC and other partners involved, he doubted he would still be a farmer.
“When you are in the farming business and have no money, you have to take out a loan from the bank at some point. With this project I will manage to pay all my dues with no worries.
“I am thankful to the municipality and its implementing agencies for ensuring that this day was a success,” Kama said.
The Rafi beef programme was launched by the CDC in August 2020 with the objective to partner with private farmers for a minimum of 10 years.
Four district municipalities have participated in the programme so far and 29 commercial agreements have been signed for the purpose of improving the quality of livestock produced.
In Chris Hani, the owners of five farms in Sterkstroom, Molteno and Khowa (previously Elliot) have signed commercial agreements and about 1,490 cattle are on site.
In OR Tambo, one farmer in Lusikisiki signed, though no cattle have been brought yet.
In Joe Gqabi, 14 farms are in the final stage of signing, while in Amathole nine commercial agreements have been signed in Peddie and about 600 cattle have been delivered to the farms.
Chris Hani District Municipality mayor Wongama Gela, who presided over the cattle handover, said the Rafi beef programme was a game changer that sought to develop farmers.
“The participating farmers get to change their current breed to ensure good-quality beef.”
Being part of the programme comes with perks like the rental fee and management assistance, because there is a technical [team] that will extend its skills to the farmers.
“This is an empowering project that will bear fruits for both the farm owners and the Chris Hani economy,” he said.