Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Big boost for mohair producers in Eastern Cape
A collaboration between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) has resulted in a R1,4 million injection into four emerging Angora goat farming operations in the Eastern Cape.
Driefontein Farm in Somerset East received R546 800 to buy 200 Angora goats and piping for irrigation.
Uitkomst Farm in Jansenville received R561 978 for a fully equipped irrigation system to produce feed.
Irene Farm in Graaff- Reinet received R149 000 to buy 130 Angora goats, and Rhulani Farm in Cookhouse received R143 231 to buy solar panels to produce power on the farm.
An additional R1 million was made available to assist 12 farmers in the MET programme with shearing sheds and tools to improve their mohair sorting, classing and shearing efficiency.
The funding support followed the signing of a three-year memorandum of understanding in September 2023 between the ECDC and the MET.
Mlungisi Mvoko, Eastern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, said during the recent official launch of the Mohair Industry Support Programme that the goal of the partnership was to assist previously disadvantaged individuals in the Eastern Cape, and particularly the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, to become financially independent by producing quality mohair.
The ECDC CEO, Ayanda Wakaba, said the initiative facilitated access to economic development support and to the MET’s technical support to promote the sustainability, revenue generation and commercialisation efforts of these farmers.
“This project has turned the fortunes of these black farmers, who have 35-year leases on the farms owned by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
“By introducing them to Angora goat farming, capacity building and funding will improve the profitability and sustainability of these [developing] farmers in their pursuit to become commercial farmers,” Wakaba said. –