In a bid to encourage and ensure productivity of land reform farms in the Eastern Cape, MEC for the Department of Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe toured the Weltevrede farm in Cookhouse where the department has invested more than R5 million since 2015. 

MEC Kontsiwe also handed over a R1, 3 million worth fully equipped shearing shed to the farm occupied by three family members who acquired it through the state-led land redistribution programme called Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS). 

The activities of the farm include livestock farming with Angora goats, Bonsmara cattle and Dorper sheep as well as fodder production that includes lucerne, hay, oats and maize. Since 2015, the Department has made a total investment of R5 219 047 million for the provision of boreholes, 10 km boundary fence, small stock dipping facility, 10 Angora rams, eradication of invasive species, fodder seed, stock water system, dam scooping and shearing shed. 

“I am happy with what the Department of Agriculture has done for us,” said Katie Miners who occupies the farm with her husband and son. “We had a huge fencing problem; our goats would go through the fence and go to other farms and that made it difficult to find them. So, the fence we received from the Department of Agriculture made a huge difference’’ said Miners. Miners said the assistance with the boreholes and stock water dams has eased their struggles with water and the shed had elevated the quality of the mohair they produce. 

The farm, which employs six permanent workers, sells its mohair through BKB in Gqeberha while the fodder assists with feeding the livestock with the remainder sold to local farmers. Their partnership with Mohair Empowerment Trust saw the farmers receiving Angora goats from the Trust and they had received an award for the best Mohair producer through the Trust. 

MEC Kontsiwe applauded the achievements of the farm, adding that the department’s support was “aligns with provincial government priorities that aim to support previously disadvantaged farmers who transitioned into commercial farming.”

She committed the department in building income generating infrastructure that would improve quality of wool and fibre, create jobs and improve livelihoods. “Farmers should take care of government investment so that the future generations can benefit from it,” Kontsiwe added. 

The MEC also handed over poultry feed to 55 beneficiaries from Somerset East Community.