KZN premier launches uMkhanyakude livestock association drive

IN an attempt to improve the lives of livestock farmers and the uMkhanyakude farming community at large, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala last week launched the Livestock Association’s revival programme.

At the launch, Zikalala rolled up his sleeves to till the soil during the implementation of Jozini’s multi-planting season.

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The programme forms part of the KZN government’s intensified efforts to support farmers to drive radical agrarian socio-economic transformation, as the agricultural sector was identified as a strategic sector that plays an important role in economic development and ensuring food security.

Zikalala said with the closure of the ports during last year’s hard lockdown, agriculture in KZN thrived because of increased local demand, and the provincial government was even more determined to secure such markets for KZN farmers moving forward.

‘We must continue to facilitate the entry of a generation of black agriculture entrepreneurs and black commercial farmers,’ said Zikalala.

‘As a pro-poor government, we will continue to advocate that the financial services sector must prioritise its loan book to make available relevant equity investment instruments and loan finance to enable existing farmers to undertake transformational projects to grow their enterprises.

‘We insist there is a need for increased funding for agro-processing, and we will continue to help small agribusinesses access supplier and enterprise development programmes,’ he said.

The premier said his government has developed a strategy to map out and give clarity to the development of livestock associations to address the growth of the communal livestock industry to both the emergent and commercial livestock sectors, as well as value-adding of livestock and livestock products through livestock associations.

‘We are pleased that the four livestock associations in uMkhanyakude district, with more than 11 000 members and over 160 dip tanks, will be mobilised into one district livestock association.

‘About R26-million was invested in dipping chemicals for all districts in KZN. We have 52 livestock associations from the 10 districts and eThekwini Metropolitan.

‘Three livestock intervention programmes will be implemented in uMkhanyakude district, estimated to be over R5.3-million,’ he said.