The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Department (DRDAR) continues to provide wool improvement infrastructure, equipment and training to communal and emerging farmers in the villages. DRDAR MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe will on Friday hand over a shearing shed and equipment at an event held at Mgwalana Shearing Shed in Engcobo. The department said the supplying of the infrastructure forms part of the wool improvement production programme, which has seen the value of wool exported from the province reaching 28 million tons in 2022. This generated R3.9 billion, with the formerly underdeveloped communal sector exceeding R250 million in annual income. 'To ensure the increased quality and quantity of wool produced by emerging farmers, the department provided 73 new shearing sheds, 81 multipurpose sheds, 72 new dipping tanks, renovation of 248 dipping tanks, and seen shearing sheds,' the department said. The fenced shearing shed structure with a built-in office and two male and female toilets, includes a 7 425 litre dip plunge, portable small stock handling facilities, wool presser, sorting table, classing bins, and provision of two water harvesting tanks, which will be handed over to the Magwalana Wool Growers' Association. The enterprise, which was started in 2010, has 29 members... On top of the R1.1 million investment in the structure, DRDAR also provided training that included understanding of contracts and their sources, managerial expertise and administrative capabilities, business environments and select business opportunities, as well as marketing. 'The farmers have 2 223 sheep that produced 3 778 kg of wool in the previous production season after being sold through BKB in Gqeberha - earning them revenue of R10 95 7500. These returns are expected to rise, since they will be utilising quality equipment and proper structure,' the department said. Source: South African Government News Agency