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The Makana
Milk Goat Project
The first phase of the Makana Milk Goat Project in service to
the Makana Milk Goat Farmer’s Co-operative, with R 4 million
funding obtained from the Eastern Cape Thina Sinako Fund of the
EU, is being developed as a partnership between Ms. Terry Myburg
of Sombhulula Management Services CC. of Grahamstown and
Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd due to their expertise in goat
production, training and infrastructure.
This initial funding is being applied to the training of 50 goat
farmers in an NQF 1: Animal Production Learnership (with
emphasis on Goat Production) and infrastructure improvement of
each of 9 farms belonging to these farmers. These aspects of the
first phase are being managed by Scientific Roets’ Agricultural
and Engineering divisions respectively, whilst Ms. Myberg is
overseeing the Project Management, project finances,
institutional issues and social facilitation.
All 50 learners reside in the Makana Municipal District and
include land owners, land beneficiaries community members and
respective dependants of members of the Makana Milk Goat
Farmer’s Co-operative. The NQF 1 Animal Production Learnership
includes 33 Unit Standards (modules) covering aspects that need
to be understood in the running of a small stock production
enterprise. These include reading and writing skills,
mathematical skills, animal production skills, marketing skills
and processing skills, to name but a few. The learnership will
take approximately 12 months to complete.
The training of the 50 learners began in August 2007 in order to
take advantage of the kidding season. It started with two,
one-week classroom sessions comprising 25 learners each,
followed by the learners spending a week in Bonnievale, Western
Cape, on a milk goat farm where they received tuition and
practical experience in the running of a milk goat operation
from one of the most respected milk goat breeders in South
Africa, Mr Roelof Smit.
To date (January 2008), the learners have received theoretical
training in 8 Unit Standards, have been on one field trip
(mentioned above), and have been involved in practical
assignments. Assessments for several Unit Standards have already
taken place.
A total of 9 farms were identified as part of the project and
these stretch from Alicedale in the West to Committees Drift on
the Fish River in the East. These farms were assessed by the
Scientific Roets’ Engineering department in order to ascertain
the infrastructural requirements relevant to this project.
Specific requirements were noted and are in the process of being
designed. The construction works will soon be going out for
tender (or invitation to submit quotations since these are small
infrastructure projects).
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