Wool production profits convert youth into farming evangelist

Impressive profits from sheep farming and wool production converted a budding sheep farmer from Ngqeleni into a farming evangelist committed to “winning souls” to the lucrative livestock farming business.

The hunger to learn the ropes of sheep farming and wool production attracted Thob’ inceba Mantshunga to join a local wool production co-operative supported by the department of rural development & agrarian reform.

The 27-year-old Mantshunga from KwaZulu village outside Ngqeleni said he thought it was a good idea to join the elders who run their local co-operative because he realised sheep farming and wool production was a lucrative business.

“They [elders] motivated me to join and stay in this business.

“As result I now own 60 sheep.

“I joined this business because I saw it was lucrative.

“You can develop and become successful because this business is good. Young people should know that being among elders helps a lot. These elders have a vision and I now also have a vision.”

He encouraged other young people to venture into sheep farming and wool production, adding, “because the government built a shearing shed for their co-operative in their village, it is ready to assist more youth to join the sector”.

Mantshunga said because of what he earns from the sector, he encourages young people to venture into sheep farming and wool production so that they don’t wait for employment, but create their own wealth.

“Government has provided many things for us including two dip tanks, animal handling facilities and shearing equipment.

“I plead with the youth to come on board. These facilities [shearing shed] improved our quality,” he said.

According to Mantshunga, before the government built the shearing shed for their cooperative, their sheep suffered from diseases but since then they were now getting better profits from selling wool to local markets.

Apart from shearing his sheep and selling its wool, Mantshunga said he sells some of his sheep to local buyers, earning him money to support his family, take his children to school and put food on the table.