Genetic improvement is key to increased profit and Amajuba livestock farmers will now be making considerable gains as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (KZN DARD) livestock improvement program has reached Osizweni, Newcastle.  

KZN DARD MEC, Mr Super Zuma, delivered Brahman bulls as a response to concerns raised by local farmers of the poor condition of cattle resulting from poor genetics.

MEC Zuma made his first visit to Osizweni in late January and his follow-up visit was at the beginning of February. On both occasions, MEC Super Zuma held engagements with farmers who shed light on challenges hindering their progress. 

During the handover of the bulls on Monday, 12 February 2024, MEC Zuma was joined by KZN MEC for Finance, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni who had come to solicit inputs from farmers in preparation for the 2024 Provincial Budget.

MEC Nkonyeni revealed that her Department was also conducting an inspection to ensure that the budget allocated to KZN DARD was correctly and adequately spent and that programs pronounced during the 2023 Budget Speech were being undertaken. 

“We visited a number of projects within Osizweni and we are proud of the work being done by KZN DARD and MEC Zuma. These programs are improving the lives of farmers and I can attest that the Department is doing what it had promised to do for all farmers and our women are the most beneficiaries,” said MEC Nkonyeni. 

MEC Super Zuma highlighted that in order for local farmers to be competitors in the market, the quality of cattle had to improve. 

“With our livestock improvement programs, we want to raise commercial farmers. We have already struck several deals with industry leaders which will see our farmers soar, making enough profit to sustain their families. We want to create business men and women through agriculture who will in turn, create job opportunities,” said MEC Super Zuma.  

Sibongile Nkosi of the Amajuba District Livestock Association, said the bulls would be handed to farmers in Dannhauser, Newcastle and Emadlangeni. She said the Brahman bulls were a solution to long-standing issues and that her responsibility would be to monitor and ensure that farmers are following the breeding plan. 

“We are excited, one of the main issues was that we could not sell our cattle at the right price because of their current condition. Farmers now have an opportunity to make a profit,” said Nkosi.