CHIEF DIRECTORATE: CORPORATE SERVICES
DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION SERVICES
MEDIA RELEASE
Beneficiaries upbeat as dairy cows are officially handed over to them
Monday, 18th March 2013
Hartbeesfontein: The Syferlaagte Farm Trust has potential for commercial dairy farming, and this vision rests in the hands of the farm beneficiaries. This was said by Ms Desbo Mohono, the MEC for North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at the official handing-over of 20 Holstein dairy cows and dairy feeds to the Syferlaagte Farm Trust today, Monday 18th March 2013, at Hartbeesfontein.
MEC Mohono said for that vision to be realised, the beneficiaries must double their efforts and make sure that this project is counted amongst those contributing immensely in the fight against hunger and joblessness.
Putting emphasis on the need for beneficiaries to be skilful in managing the project’s affairs, Mohono committed her Department to ensuring that the beneficiaries are trained on primarily record keeping and financial management, saying these skills are critical for the sustainability of any agricultural business.
The Trust’s Chairperson, Mr Martin Kgethe who accepted the 20 Holstein dairy cows and dairy feeds on behalf of the farm beneficiaries, said this was a major boost for their project.
“We have been producing 150litres of milk per day, but since delivery of the additional 20 cows a few days ago, we are now producing 450litres of milk per day”, said Kgethe adding that the additional cows’ individual production range from 30 to 40 litres of milk per day.
The milk produced on the farm is sold to a dairy processing plant in Klerksdorp, after every second day. “We are appreciative of the Department‘s positive response to our needs”, remarked Mr Kgethe.
Syferlaagte Farm Trust was acquired through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme in 2004, and its 31 beneficiaries are former farm workers on the said farm. There are currently 66 Holstein dairy cows on the farm which is 384 hectares in extent. Other farming activities practiced on the farm are crop, vegetables and pasture production.
Recently, the Department has through its Crop Science division, provided the project with 400 seedlings of cabbage, 400 seedlings of spinach, 100g carrots seeds, and 100g of beetroot seeds which have been planted on a 0.5 ha area. Mohono further assured the beneficiaries of the Department’s constant support through its Animal Health Technicians and Agricultural Advisors.
The handing over ceremony was attended by amongst others the Provincial Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Dodo Baloyi as well as the project beneficiaries.
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