Cattle on loan to empower the poor

The spirit of ukusisa, principle of sharing with those less fortunate, was celebrated last week when Sanganer cattle breeders and commercial farmers loaned cattle worth R200 000 to 16 emerging farmers from Ermelo in Mpumalanga. The emerging farmers will care for the cattle for a certain period and will be allowed to keep any calves born during that time. They will then return the original cattle to their owners. “This practice ensures that those who have much empower those who do not have,” said provincial agriculture and land administration MEC Dina Pule, who attended the handover. The Sanganer project is a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Land Administration, the Cattle Breeders’ Association, the Mpumalanga branch of the National African Farmers’ Union (Nafu) and commercial farmers represented by Schalk von Rheede from Oudtshoorn. The Nafu identified the emerging farmers and trained them in livestock production, veld management, animal health and breeding. – African Eye News Service