Speaking to BuaNews on Wednesday, department spokesperson Segoati Mahlangu said the project was initiated in mid 2005 with the aim of reintroducing the Nguni breed of cattle into the province in large numbers, focusing specifically on emerging farmers.
“The project is aimed at empowering emerging farmers with livestock farming skills and developing their entrepreneurship abilities,” said Mahlangu.
He said six emerging farmers from Capricorn and Sekhukhune District will each receive 19 heifers and one bull.
Farmers will then sign a contract committing them to return the cattle to the project after five years of receiving the livestock.
“They are expected to return all of them after five years including the bull, but if they want to, they can return it before that,” explained Mahlangu.
By signing the contract, farmers will be committed to provide appropriate care for the cattle including feeds and supplements as well as veterinary care.
Farmers are also expected to keep only the Nguni breed on their land and keep the cattle pure and comply with all the other requirements of the projects.
Some of the requirements also include training, making the cattle available for inspection, and reporting any changes in the well-being of the cattle.
The number of the cattle to be distributed per beneficiary is deemed large enough to form a nucleus herd from which the beneficiary can expand towards making the herd a profitable enterprise.
The distribution was made at a ceremonial event held at University of Limpopo's Experimental Farm where Agriculture MEC Dikeledi Magadzi gave the keynote address.
The Nguni Cattle Development Project is a partnership initiative between the department, the Industrial Development Cooperation and the University of Limpopo.
Article published courtesy of BuaNews
