HER Majesty the Indlovukazi has called upon local farmers to tap into agricultural farming with intent to meet the huge demand of goat products, particularly meat.
She said Swazis needed to get rid of misleading perceptions such as the common belief - which she also held in the past while still a teenager - that goat milk causes skin diseases. The Queen Mother said in her teen years, they were advised that goat milk was not good for their health.
However, she said now that Swazis had been schooled on the nutrition contained by goat milk, there was no need to discourage its consumption but rather to encourage more people to utilise goat products. “Goat meat is in high demand, both locally and internationally, hence the main reason I would also like to advise local farmers to utilise this opportunity and uplift themselves economically. If local farmers get boosted economically, the country’s economy could be revived sooner,” she said.
Her Majesty was speaking during the goat commercialisation field day at Mphofu Royal Residence (near Buhleni) yesterday.
The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku, newly appointed Minister of Tinkhundla development and Administration Rodgers Mamba, Minister of Agriculture Clement Dlamini, Public Works and Transport Minister Nthuthuko Dlamini and Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Hlob’sile Ndlovu-Fidelis as well as Tibiyo TakaNgwane MD Themba Dlamini, among others.
To attest on her assertion that indeed goat farming had a huge potential to economically boost local farmers for the better, the Queen Mother made an example of a close friend who made over US$1 million through production of 100 modern goat meat sold to various European and American countries.
“At first I was also reluctant that goat farming could change the life of a farmer for the better, but after the experience related by one South African farmer who made over one million dollars through selling goats to various European and American countries, I can now say with confidence that goat farming had vast opportunities to make impressive income,” added Indlovukazi.
Sherwood Butcheries Director Trevor Carmichael echoed Her Majesty’s speech and said: “In Swaziland we have a huge demand for goat meat, but we are short of supply”.
He added that at his butcheries, there was a need for the supply of free-range goats and the prices would vary according to the value of the goat meat supplied. The minister of agriculture said: “Every Swazi can attest to the fact that when one marries a wife traditionally (kuteka), a goat plays an important role. It does not end there as we also use it while performing certain rituals and making our local tidziya/timbeleko. Above all we enjoy goat meat and exchange it for cash”.
Elderly grants to be disbursed month end
FOLLOWING fears that elderly grants might not be paid anytime soon due to the ailing Swazi economy, it has since been revealed that all elderly grants will be paid as of October 31.
This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku during the goat commercialisation field day at Mphofu Royal Residence (near Buhleni) yesterday. He said his staff was working hard to ensure that all cheques were finalised with intent to meet the deadline.
“It is now final; the elderly will be paid as from the 31st of October. We will start with the Hhohho region this month.
However, it must be emphasised that we need to increase the number of elderly people who will receive grants electronically to save more money in light of the current financial challenges,” said Masuku.
The DPM further stated that they were also planning to ensure that even schools received money electronically.
He said school principals from all four regions travel to Mbabane to fetch cheques, which was cost effective, hence it had to be stopped too.
“During such hard times in terms of the national economy, we need to ensure that we save money in every possible manner,” added Masuku.
During the Hhohho Regional Smart Partnership dialogue held a few months back, the DPM said if all elderly grants could be paid electronically, government could save over E5 million per annum.
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