The Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development has made a commitment to prioritise the livestock industry in the province by promoting animal husbandry practices like primary animal health. This was echoed by the department’s MEC Mrs Lydia Johnson at the dip tanks handover event at Matiwane in Ladysmith today the 27 February 2010.
KwaZulu-Natal has an area of 9.44 million hectares of land which 82% is suitable for livestock production. Of this area, only 4.5 million hectares lends itself mainly to livestock production and due to potential should be used for grazing purposes only. The department has resolved to deal with livestock challenges. The main challenges that are almost common for many communal livestock farmers are:
- insufficient knowledge of sound animal husbandry practices.
- insufficient marketing infrastructure, facilities, systems sale yards and abattoirs.
- insufficient animal handling facilities and overnight/ kraaling facilities
- lack of and fencing of grazing fields
- lack water and dams
- stock theft
- winter feeding and poor nutritional status in winter
“The focus of the strategy is to increase the working knowledge of subsistence and emerging commercial farmers on animal husbandry and improve the health of livestock, reducing diseases and mortality and build on the existing asset base of livestock farmers” said Johnson.
Subsistence farmers hold over 1,5 million cattle which is 55% of the provincial beef herd and 74% of the goat stock. Inadequate veterinary services and derelict infrastructure resulting in fewer and poorer quality animals and lack of market access are the main reasons why the value of these assets has not been fully realised for the benefit of the owner farmers and the provincial economy in general.
The intention now, is to change all of this. KwaZulu-Natal plans to exceed the 20% of national beef herd and 14% of the national goat herd which it currently contributes to the red meat industry. As a start, the dip tank rehabilitation programme is already underway hence the launch was held at Matiwane today. MEC Johnson encouraged farmers to make use of the dipping services to keep their animals in good state and safe from dreadful diseases. The department’s intention is to continue providing dipping material, vaccines and Drugs for Primary Animal Health Care that will keep the animals healthy so that in turn when people sell some they can earn more income.
Johnson also spoke to farmers about stock theft as a single most serious threat facing livestock farmers in the Province. Losses in 2008/09 amounted to R365 million nationally and R109 million in KwaZulu-Natal. The number of livestock farmers is diminishing as a result.
“The department has partnered with livestock farmers, the Department of Community Safety and Liaison and SAPS to fight this problem. We have also been purchasing branding kits in order to immediately address the problem. I handed them to you at Somsuku remember”said Johnson.
The launch was largely welcomed by the farmers as it will assist black emerging farmers.
Enquiries:
Ncumisa Mafunda
Tel: 033 343 8063
Cell: 079 515 7187
