Mbhashe Local Municipality
III. Fishing
3.3.4 Agricultural
The subsistence agricultural sector is the biggest contributing sector in the economy of Mbhashe. Many households use agriculture for subsistence and they heavily rely on it for food. The areas of the municipality are mostly under communal land tenure.
3.3.4.1 Sheep farming
Mbhashe contains arguably the richest land for livestock in the Amathole district. Public private partnerships and improved farming methods can expand commercial livestock farming in the Mbhashe areas.
Challenges
I. The study conducted showed there’s no enough grazing land.
II. The absence of a clear and known legislation on the issue of land redistribution.
III. The absence of the Spatial Development Framework for the rural areas makes the chiefs and headmen to relinquish the grazing land to the high demand for land for households. This is hitting negatively to the plans for the improvement of wool in the area and the fight to push back the frontiers of poverty.
IV. Animal diseases.
V. There’s a visible amount of skills shortage in the animal farming industry VI. Lack of water dams
VII. Silted water dams.
Remedial Action
I. Introduce spatial planning in rural areas
II. Build partnerships with institutions that deal with animal diseases
3.3.4.2 Cattle farming
Cattle are spread all over the Mbhashe area whilst main focus is on improvement on quality of cattle for meat and skin for leather production.
I. Every year, the Department of Agriculture and the municipality plan for the known and the unknown outbreaks of diseases in animals. A scheme was developed where the municipality pays for vaccine, the farmer pays for each
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animal vaccinated and the money is collected by farmers in dipping tank formations then banked, and the Department of Agriculture co-ordinates and manages the programme.
II. A number of workshops named “information days” are conducted for the farmers, Chiefs and the councilors on the current farming methods and animal health.
III. To ensure market access, the municipality is planning the wool shed where all the wool grower associations will put their wool and made ready for transportation to the formal industry. The farmers in this case will gain benefits associated with the economies of scale. This shed has already been built by MIG in Dutywa but needs equipment.
IV. Construct new water dams- Request assistance from the technical Department.
V. Clear siltage from the old dams- Request assistance from the technical Department
VI. Request will be made to the technical Department for maintenance assistance.
3.3.4.2.Goats
Goat are largely in the Willowvale area (about 32 000) and small projects that are aimed at improving quality for milk production have started there. Twenty (20) year old shearing sheds have been renovated across Mbhashe and six (6) new sheds have been built.
3.3.4.3.Piggery
There are few piggery projects and some registered co-operatives from across the municipality. There’s a potential and an opportunity to develop a piggery abattoir in the area.
3.3.4.4 Poultry
For the past 9 years the municipality has assisted small poultry farmers to grow chicken and sell for profit. That was done as a poverty relief programme.
In year 2006, the municipality commissioned the services of the Agricultural Research Council to investigate why the poultry projects fail and do not graduate to a business model. The major cause for concern was the readiness of the market immediately when the product is ready for sale.
The department of Social Development has funded a lot of projects in the poultry industry but there were challenges in growing the industry.
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Challenges
I. Market for the products
II. Training for the projects
III. Failure of the projects to sustain Remedial Action
An agreement was reached with the local retailers that they are going to buy the produce from the local projects, but the suppliers could not meet the required quantity at the required time.
The municipality is now in the process of establishing the chicken abattoir so that the chicken is taken to the abattoir once the chicken is ready for sale, thus providing enough market for those projects.
A number of institutions have been consulted and agreed on the training of the projects. These institutions are, King Hintsa FET College, Tsolo Agricultural College, Agricultural Research Council, Fort Kox, Department of Labour and the independent service providers.
3.3.4.5 Citrus Fruit
The Willowvale area is also an area where there’s potential for citrus fruit production. The area is dominated by deep, well drained and aerated soils. The climate is characterized by warm summer and cold winter with the mean annual temperature of 27ºc. This area receives a summer rainfall of 780mm per annum.
The municipality together with the communities in the Willowvale and Xhora area has started the citrus fruit production in households. 3000 trees were distributed in all wards of Mbhashe in years 2010/11/12.
Challenge
Agreement with communities on land use management.
Remedial Actions
I. A series of workshops is being organized and facilitated on the land use and CLARA.
II. The municipality has been providing citrus trees to Willowvale and Elliotdale communities.
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