A new best-practice reference manual for wool farmers has been drawn up by the National Wool Growers Association NWGA, Cape Wools, Elsenburg, Woolworths, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the National Cleaner Production Centre, the National Development Agency and the Veterinary of South Africa. The publication is designed to meet on-farm, quality raw wool and lamb production standards for EU Eco Label, Global Gap, Fair Trade and organic compliance. It highlights the importance of farmers positioning themselves ahead of ethical and best-farming practices.
According to the chairman of the Wool Forum, Professor Almero de Lange, the publication will form the basis for further growth of the sheep and wool industry. “Now that the world’s consumers increasingly value products that are natural and produced according to socially responsible and environmentally friendly standards, farmers must understand what’s acceptable and what’s not,” he said. “For processors and marketers, the industry’s image is essential.”
W hile the standards set for best practices appear rather forbidding, they will be profitable in the long term. “The main drive is to get farmers committed to a continuous plan to improve management practices,” said NWGA production advisor Braam Coetzee. ”They need to be able to show they’re moving in the right direction. Eventually, the extra cost of changing practices and monitoring would be offset by lower input costs for feed and stock remedies, wider market access and more robust flocks.” R ecognition certificates will be issued annually to farmers who submit completed code of conduct and vendor declaration forms, available from Cape Wools or the NWGA. – Roelof Bezuidenhout
