15 April 2009
The MEC for Agriculture Gugile Nkwinti invites you to witness the massive
handover of 330 cattle and two tractors to the farming community of Elliot in
the Sakhisizwe municipal area in Elliot.
The cattle include 150 Bonsmara, 9 Simbra and 90 Simmentaler. The livestock
improvement initiative is funded through governmentâs Accelerated and Shared
Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) EC to the tune of R17 million while
the handover of tractors is the MECâs initiative that has seen about forty
tractors with their implements and three combine harvesters being given to all
the provincial district areas since February.
The beneficiaries of the Sakhisizwe Livestock Beef programme are stretched
within 86 emerging farms in Elliot and the focus of the programme is to reap
fruit in the growing and production of high quality beef heifers through the
market channel developed by AsgiSA-EC.
Through this model, AsgiSA-EC will provide an interest-free loan as a âseed
capitalâ to farmers to breed stock
The beneficiaries that receive the livestock are contracted to supply a
market through AsgiSA-EC and within this process AsgiSA-EC project management
team will work with the departments of agriculture, roads and transport, water
affairs as well the BKB.
The collaboration with other stakeholders is held in high regard by MEC
Nkwinti and in this instance it will ensure that all areas lacking on
individual farms are addressed.
A benchmarking model that include calving, feed, medication, income per farm
and infrastructure development and productivity will be managed through the
project management office.
The livestock improvement programme is critical in the departmentâs bid to
ensure the province do not only have many livestock but become the hub of the
market place for livestock.
Details of the event:
Venue: Esikiti (2 km from Elliot)
Date: 16 April 2009
Time: 10h00
For more information about this statement please contact:
Thozi Manyisana
Cell: 073 263 3754
However, for more information on what is happening at the event and to have
interviews with the MEC Nkwinti during the event contact:
Senior Communications Officer
Anele Valela
Cell: 082 817 0040
For directions to the place of the event please contact:
Mr Buhla Lali
Cell: 078 649 3188
Issued by Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
15 April 2009
