Boost for EC’S classy mohair industry
Financial prospects for black mohair producers in the Eastern Cape received a major boost recently with a R1.4m injection into emerging angora goat farming operations in Somerset East in the Sarah Baartman district.
The financial injection is a collaboration between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) which is an initiative of Mohair South Africa (MSA).
The Mohair Industry Support Programme initiative aims to transform the mohair industry by commercialising the operations of emerging black Angora goat farmers and to introduce them to the global mohair value chain.
Finance & economic development MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, who delivered the keynote address at the launch of the Mohair Industry Support Programme, said: “The funding support follows the conclusion of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September 2023 between the ECDC and the MET to support emerging goat farmers and to facilitate funding opportunities.
A further R1m has been made available by the ECDC to assist 12 farmers in the MET mohair support programme with shearing sheds and tools for mohair sorting, classing and shearing efficiency.”
ECDC chief executive officer Ayanda Wakaba said: “The MOU facilitates access to ECDC’S financial and economic development support and to the MET’S technical support to promote the sustainability, revenue generation and commercialisation efforts of these farmers.
“They will benefit from technical skills transfer while improving the quality of the mohair they produce.”
The aim is to transform the industry by bringing into the commercial value chain more mohair producers from previously disadvantaged groups.
“This project has turned the fortunes of black farmers who have thirty-year leases on the farms owned by the Department of Agriculture,” Wakaba added.
“Introducing these farmers to Angora goat farming, capacity building and funding has greatly improved the profitability and sustainability of these development farms in their pursuit to be commercial farmers.”
South African mohair is globally acknowledged as one of the finest natural fibres.
Most of the world’s mohair is imported into Gqeberha and processed at Gubb & Inngs (part of the Stucken Group) in Kariega and Samil Processing near King Williams Town, from where it is exported.
Farms in the small towns of Aberdeen, Somerset East, Jansenville and Willowmore routinely produce nearly half of SA’S production.
Processing of mohair takes place in Kariega, Gqeberha and Ntabozuko outside East London. The value chain includes brokers, buyers, processors, spinners, manufacturers and retailers.
Between 800 and 900 commercial farmers produce mohair with approximately 30,000 people benefiting from this niche fibre.
MSA said that SAS has the capacity to produce well over half of the global mohair demand, with Eastern Cape farmers accounting for 73%.
Nelson Mandela Bay region can claim to be the global mohair capital, with its port handling the bulk of the country’s exports.
The region has the largest mohair spinner in the world in Kariega and another smaller spinner in Gqeberha and 90% of the produce is channelled through the ports of Ngqura and Gqeberha, with Italy and China taking 70% of the clip (the hair).
Mohair is coveted by the world’s fashion industry elite, as well as by local designers, international designers, craft specialists, industrial fibre specialists and the tourism sector. Manufacturers capitalise on its rare, natural qualities.