KZN agriculture | Beefing up options to rural farmers

ENTEMBENI - The Bonsmara Livestock Programme has been launched in KwaZulu-Natal.

It aims to help emerging farmers transform their cattle breeds to trade in the hotly-contested beef market.

Rural communities are supplied with high-quality Bonsmara bulls to develop their breed.

It’s hoped this will bridge the gap between well-established and emerging rural farmers in the province.

Some local livestock farmers believe once their breed’s been transformed, they’ll be able to access beef markets even beyond the country’s borders.

Provincial agriculture authorities say they’ll be focusing on other breeds that are common and thrive in the province such as brahmans and nguni cattle.

They say it's up to the locals to protect the cattle designed to change their breed and probably open doors for them in the beef market.

* eNCA's Siphamandla Goge reports.