PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The prospects of black mohair producers in the Eastern Cape received a major boost on Thursday following a R1,4 million injection into four emerging angora goat farming operations in Somerset East in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
The financial injection is a result of a collaboration between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) which is an initiative of Mohair South Africa.
The Mohair Industry Support Programme initiative aims to transform the mohair industry by commercialising the operations of emerging black angora goat farmers and to introduce them to the global mohair value chain.
According to Mohair South Africa, South African angora goat farmers produce 54% of global mohair production, with Eastern Cape farmers producing 73% of South African mohair production.
The Nelson Mandela Bay region is considered the global mohair capital because its port handles the bulk of South African exports.
The region has the largest mohair spinner in the world in Kariega and another in Gqeberha not far behind.
In addition, 90% of the produce is channelled through the ports of Ngqura and Gqeberha of which 70% is exported to Italy and China.
The clip (hair) taken from Angora goat is called mohair.
Versatile by nature, mohair is coveted by the world’s fashion industry elite, as well as by interior designers, designers, craft specialists, industrial fibre specialists and the tourism sector.
Mohair manufacturers maximise on the fibre’s unrivalled natural beauty, capitalising on its rare, natural qualities.
Provincial MEC for Economic Development Mlungisi Mvoko delivered the keynote address at the launch of the programme.
'COLLABORATIVE EFFORT'
“The four farms are the Driefontein Farm in Somerset East which received R546,800 to buy 200 angora goats and piping for irrigation from the ECDC-administered Imvaba Cooperatives Fund and Uitkomst Farm in Jansenville which received R561,978 from the Imvaba Cooperatives Fund for a fully-equipped irrigation system,” Mvoko said.
“The system will allow the farm to produce its own feed."
He said the funding support also follows the conclusion of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding in September 2023 between the ECDC and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) to support emerging angora goat farmers and to facilitate funding opportunities for them."
Mvoko said the launch of the programme also recognises the collaborative effort between the ECDC and the MET which is an initiative of Mohair South Africa.
ECDC chief executive officer Ayanda Wakaba said the conclusion of the MoU provides access to ECDC incentives and economic development support to the emerging black angora goat farmers.
“The MoU facilitates access to ECDC’s financial and economic development support and to the MET’s technical support to promote the sustainability, revenue generation and commercialisation efforts of these farmers.
“The objective is to transform the industry by bringing into the commercial value chain more mohair producers from previously disadvantaged groups,” Wakaba said.
