The tiny remote and rural town of Centane not only aims to be a major grain producer but also a notable player in beef production to benefit many subsistence farmers in the Mnquma area.
Various stakeholders including traditional leaders, the provincial government and the private sector met on Tuesday to check the progress of one of the Centane’s major farming projects — the Transkei Feed Kraal, a project that is expected to be a game changer.
The project is spearheaded by Beefmaster Group — a leading specialist supplier of beef products to SA and global markets — working in conjunction with distinguished businesswoman and founder of Wiphold, Gloria Serobe, as well as traditional leaders.
It is jointly owned by KwaDrabo Trust, a trust founded by Serobe and Lingelihle Co-operative, established by the traditional leadership of Centani.
Based in KwaHolela in Centani, on the farm of the late AmaXhosa King Xolilizwe Sigcawu, it will be managed by Thabo Magandana, who is a doctoral candidate at the University of Pretoria.
Once operations commence, the Transkei Feed Kraal will assist in the formalised selling and buying of cattle and will be the first of its kind in the area.
Beefmaster Group provided the technical expertise for the project and will also provide a mentor to help with the ongoing facilitation of knowledge and best practices.
Magandana said the feedlot project had received land from traditional leaders with the assistance of the AmaXhosa kingdom’s Nqadu Great Place in Willowvale four years ago.
“This land is leased by the king to the co-operative. While the farm is about 600ha, the leased area is 245ha. We started building here in March 2018 but we were delayed by the outbreak of the coronavirus,” Magandana said.
“The entire feedlot aims at housing 600 cattle. They will be divided into 150 in each of the four paddocks. But for the start we are planning on having 300 cattle.”
He said during the building of the structures they employed more than 30 local people. Now there will be five people to assist in feeding and taking care of the cattle.
Lingelihle Co-operative’s Nomthandazo Dondashe said the project aims to benefit all the communities of the 54 traditional leaders in Centane.
“This project aims to improve the life of stockfarmers in Centane and many other areas, not only in Mnquma but in the entire Amathole district.
“This is a unique project where traditional leaders themselves are involved from inception,” Dondashe said.
Blackey Swart a Makhanda farmer, who was roped in as mentor, said initiatives like these would improve cattle farming in Centane and bring a lot of money to the farmers’ pockets and the money would circulate within the region.
Beefmaster Group supply chain executive Roelie van Roeenen said: “We are very happy that the project is now at this stage after it was delayed by Covid-19 and the foot and mouth decease.
“This project is for the community’s benefit and we will assist them on the commercial side.
“It has bright future which will soon grow to a big business to a point where they can export beef.”
The infrastructure development has cost R6m.
Department of rural development & agrarian reform’s Mnquma deputy director Linda Silevu applauded the initiative.
“Most stockowners were selling their cattle for customary ceremonies and not for commercial purposes and now they will be business-minded,” Silevu said.
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