DRDAR MEC Pieters to close Youth Month with handover of shearing shed to Ngqushwa farmers
The Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Nonkqubela Pieters will close the Youth Month in style by handing over R1,1 million worth shearing shed to farmers that encourages youth participation tomorrow.
As part of the commitment to provide proper infrastructure to communal farmers in a bid to commercialise communal farmers, the MEC will handover the shed to the Bell Woolgrowers Association in Bell village in Ngqushwa.
Despite that the association has only two young members, it has lobbied youth to partake in their seasonal activities so that they can be motivated and can venture into the wool business.
Before DRDAR investment, the 21 farmers were using an old rondavel during wool shearing season with no equipment like the sorting tables and wool balers and wool get contaminated.
The new structure with the necessary equipment will ensure that there are no damages to wool and that the quality and quantity of wool will be improved.
The farmers will receive more income for the wool they sell through BKB in Port Elizabeth.
Currently the farmers have about 1 193 sheep and produced 21 bales in 2022, which is set to increase with the new structure.
DRDAR is also providing technical advice, demonstrations on shearing and wool sorting, veterinary programmes like dosing, vaccination and dipping as well as training.
During shearing season there is about 8 shearers that are temporarily hired by the association and about 8 jobs (5 males & 3 females) were created during the construction of the shearing shed.
This shed is part the of 20 shearing sheds that were constructed by DRDAR in Alfred Nzo, Amathole, OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi and Sarah Baartman districts in 2022/23 financial year.
In 2023/24 financial year a budget of R 24. 4 million has been set aside to construct 17 shearing and multipurpose sheds; renovation of two shearing sheds and provide shearing equipment for 4 sheds in OR Tambo, Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, Alfred Nzo, Amathole and Sarah Baartman.
Members of the media are invited to attend this event that will take place as follows:
Venue: Bell village, Ngqushwa
Date: 30 June 2023
Time: 10am
For more information please contact:
Mr Thozi Manyisana
Cell: 082 494 3600
