By Matsobane Manaka
Senior Traditional Leaders receive tick-borne disease-resistant heifers and one bull at a subsidised cost.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba accompanied by MEC for Limpopo Department of Agriculture Basikopo Makamu launched a Traditional Leaders Livestock Improvement Programme at Mara Research Station in Makhado Local Municipality.
Spearheaded by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the programme provided verified senior traditional leaders with four pregnant, El Niño- and tick-borne disease-resistant heifers and one bull at a subsidised cost.
Beneficiaries must retain the breeding stock for five years.
Upon handing over certificates to Senior Traditional Leaders, Premier said this is the programme that we have started when we have made those commitments during our State of the Province Address, to say, we are going to work closely to empower our senior traditional leaders so that everybody can start to take farming serious. "And this is how people will be able to sustain their livelihoods through farming.
"Through this programme, we feed ourselves first, we feed our neighbour's, we feed our country and we feed the global community".
Premier conceded that the livestock are resilient and resistant to tick borne disease. She reminded the beneficiaries that the livestock are not for sale.
The initiative aims to improve livestock quality, strengthen community herds and enhance long-term food security.
