Cheers for DRDAR’s R2 million QUMBU FEEDLOT INVESTMENT
THE future looks brighter for Qumbu’s Mdeni village red meat farmers following the
R2 million investment by the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform into the construction of a custom feedlot to fatten their livestock.
A custom feedlot is a facility used to feed and care for livestock at a
minimum fee of R850 per head. In this facility, cattle are taken care of for a period of four months (120 days) after which the owner sells them to the formal or informal market of their choice.
This custom feedlot which will be the second in the OR Tambo district forms part of the three new custom feedlots constructed by the DRDAR using R10million of its budget during the 2017/18 financial year with some in Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo Districts. For the 2018/19 financial year DRDAR injected
R16. 5 million to build additional five custom feedlots pushing them from 14 to 19 custom feedlots.
At the Mdeni Custom Feedlot near Sulenkama a lot of clearing, flattening of land and construction of feeding shelters has been done signalling the start of construction.
Two jovial local farmers said their livestock was dying not because of the recent drought but due to runaway veld fires.
“This feedlot will bring freedom to the farmers of this area.
As one can see how dry this area is, it is just a matter of time before it is full of livestock because of farmers.
We just cannot wait for this structure to be finished,” said Fundisile Hoboyi.
A nearby farmer, Thobezweni Tsuphe who was busy looking after his sheep, added that the feedlot will make them reach commercial markets.
“In this area we are huge fans of red meat production and farmers have enjoyed support from DRDAR from provision of feed to receiving bulls, rams, ewes and heifers to improve the condition of our livestock.
I don’t have enough words to express how joyful we are to see this structure. This will deliver us from our tribulations of not having enough feed,” said Tsuphe.
As DRDAR is commercialising livestock production in the province, the establishment of feedlots for livestock producers to fatten their animals for markets is one of the pillars of the program being implemented.