Bult - University of the Free State

Nuus
Dr Luis Schwalbach,
vetenarian, explains
the vet kit at Vaalharts
research station in
September 2008.
Take note of these
Nguni breeders
By Ailsa Uys
The UFS is proud to be partner in a project in the
Northern Cape that will eventually establish the biggest
Nguni cattle breeder in South Africa. In the project
upcoming farmers are “lent” top breeding stock. After
fi ve years in the project, they return as “payment in
kind” the same number of registered Nguni cattle to the
project.
The Northern Cape IDC Nguni Cattle Development
Project is being received with enthusiasm and is
achieving great successes. An amount of R12 million
over fi ve years will be invested in this fl agship project.
The partnership is ideal, says Prof. HO de Waal,
UFS Project Manager. The Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) is the funding partner, the Northern
Cape Department of Agriculture and Land Reform
(NCDALR) is the hosting institution in the Northern
Cape, we provide the project management and
communities in the Northern Cape are the benefi ciaries.
The approved farmers are provided with a
small registered Nguni herd and then get
intensive training. After the fi ve-year period
the offspring of the Nguni cattle becomes
the property of the farmer.
HO De Waal says: “An important objective
of the project, besides using the Nguni
cattle as a vehicle for a wide range of
training, is the development of people, the
lifting of living standards and expectations.”
Intense training is the backbone of the
project. Workshops are practical; solutions
to common problems are demonstrated
and discussed. A learning culture is being
demonstrated and it is paying off.
Farms in the project are spread out in
the Northern Cape. “Moving cattle is
expensive, so animals are being bought
from studs close to the farms. This benefi ts
farmers. Within a couple of years, the
project will be one of the biggest Nguni
stud breeders in the country, as although
each farmer is farming for himself, they
collectively fall under the protection of
the project for the fi rst fi ve years. Thereafter they are
on their own to become commercial farmers. It is our
aim to make people self-suffi cient, responsible and
independent Nguni breeders, says HO de Waal.
Participants speak of the success of the project:
Hendrick Faniso (56), a farmer from Warrenton, is
hoping that his children will take over. “We learn from
each other.” He appreciates the support he is getting.
Sharon Block, a 43-year old teacher, wants knowledge
to be passed onto their labourers, creating a ripple
effect in skills transfers.
Leaving the group of farmers, I understand that the
project is about people development; the respected
Nguni cattle breed is just the medium for development
and prosperity creation.
Research
30 Bult 31
NEWS