VRYBURG– Ten more North West farmers have received Bonsmara bulls as part of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s plan to empower farmers in order to improve their livestock. MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono handed over the bulls in an occasion hosted by the Department at Armoedsvlakte Livestock Breeding Farm near Vryburg Town yesterday. The ten farmers come from the four districts of the province and are already on livestock production.
The handover is also part of MEC’s response to the needs of the farmers as highlighted during her Stakeholder engagements sessions earlier this year. MEC had since committed to ensuring that farmers’ needs are prioritised.
In support of the MEC’s vision,some commercial livestock farmers are also coming on board to collaborate with the Department on assisting farmers to improve their livestock and strengthening the province’s position on meat production. In addition to the ten bulls handed over, one other farmer has donated 3 rams which were also handed over to other three young farmers making the number of animals donated to 13. Earlier this year MEC presided over a donation of bulls which were from the stud breeders in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
In handing over livestock, MEC Mohono encouraged the farmers to make sure that the donation works for them. “It cannot be right for us to buy meat out of the country when we have potential and I would like to urge farmers to ensure that they take good care of the animals. They have been donated with a hope to change lives and we would want to see livestock improvement in the province,” Mohono told the farmers.
MEC urged the farmers who received rams to work hard and take position in changing lives. She emphasised that young people stand a better chance of succeeding by virtue of them being young but there are instances where they become reluctant and they end up with frustrations.
In encouraging other both Mr Duncan Serapelwane and Mr Katlego Gaoraelwe, commercial farmers who have committed to participate in livestock improvement, urged the farmer to keep in touch with them in order to share ideas and challenges they face. They indicated that the quality of the breeds farmers received was high thereof demanded extra care. They pledged their continued support to farmers.
Ms Tsholofelo Ntsompe, a farmer based in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and a beneficiary of the programme appreciated the efforts the department. She said she felt that the department had elevated the farmers and it was now due for the farmers to ensure that they show appreciationby changing how they do business.
In her budget speech last month, MEC Desbo Mohono indicated that the programme is aimed at assisting farmers in ways needed to make the agricultural sector a more economical one, thus leading to a general upliftment of the farmers and the broader communities.
Mohono further said that; through this programme farmers will be able to increase their profitability since access to the competitive beef industry markets will be improved
Issued by the Communication Services Directorate
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