The Vaal Red Meat Producers Organisation (VARPO), in collaboration with several stakeholders, hosted a livestock and small stock Imbizo at the Vereeniging Civic Hall last Wednesday.
The event saw attendance from farmers across the Vaal region. Among the stakeholders present were the Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Project and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment (GDARDE). The primary aim of the imbizo was to assure the farmers of VARPO’s commitment to supporting them in their agricultural endeavors. VARPO emphasised their dedication to the local farmers, noting the importance of focusing on the Vaal region before extending assistance to other provinces.
In an interview with Sedibeng Ster, Maliviwe Mpayipheli, the Project Manager of the Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Project, elaborated on their participation in the imbizo. Mpayipheli explained: “Our role today at the livestock and small stock Imbizo was to present the ‘Nguni’ project. With the application process opening on Monday, 1 June, 2024, we aimed to inform farmers about the project and the criteria for application. One key point was the requirement of 500 hectares of land, which we recognise as a challenge for many black farming communities. We are planning a review process to address this issue, but for now, we encourage eligible farmers and those capable of forming associations or cooperatives to apply.”
The Nguni Cattle Development Project aims to reintroduce the Nguni breed to black farming communities in Gauteng, with the long-term goal of developing an international niche market for Nguni cattle. Established in August 2013, the Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Trust serves as the implementing agent for this initiative in Gauteng.
Robert Thema, the Deputy Chairperson of VARPO and Financial Adviser and Media Officer for the National Livestock Farmers’ Association of South Africa (NALF-SA), the parent body of VARPO, stated: “Our organisation seeks to lobby and advocate for farmers, particularly in the red meat sector. Today’s event aimed to identify the number of farmers in the Vaal region, understand their challenges, share information, and develop programmes to elevate them to commercial farming levels.”
Farmers attended in large numbers to gain insights into the operations of presiding officers and the requirements to qualify for funding from the Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Project. VARPO and the stakeholders listened to the farmers’ concerns, particularly regarding land issues, and promised to address these challenges with the government.
