"Upcoming farmers produced 629 tonnes of mohair with a market value of R41 million last year and 6,185 tonnes of wool with a value of R241 million," said Jacobus Le Roux, BKB's head of marketing and communication.
The company also announced today that shareholder dividends of R3 million were paid to emerging wool producers in the Eastern Cape's former Ciskei and Transkei regions and Lesotho. Up-and-coming wool producers in rural communities have a 13,53% ownership in BKB, one of the country's largest agribusinesses, through three empowerment trusts and stocks valued at R19 million.
Le Roux said while dividends support broad economic goals of poverty alleviation, job creation and economic empowerment, emerging wool producers in rural communities reinvest back into their agricultural enterprises to improve flock management and farming infrastructure, a sign which he believes is highly positive.
Meanwhile wool and mohair procured, sorted and traded by BKB on behalf of small livestock farmer shareholders represented 11% of the total Southern African wool clip, and 25% of the mohair clip, said Le Roux.
BKB estimates that South Africa's wool and mohair industry's annual GDP contribution of R2.7 billion could be significantly increased if emerging livestock farmers are further upskilled, supported and capacitated.
"The economic value of wool and mohair from emerging farmers has improved significantly, but ongoing partnerships between the private and public sector is a strategic priority to create an enabling environment," he said.
BKB has also initiated and invested in several turnkey development programmes to improve the volume, quality, price and marketability of wool and mohair from emerging farmers.
"We are investing in wool presses and picking and sorting tables, which increases the bale capacity of wool packaged while ensuring contaminants are removed at the harvesting source.
"Technical training is also provided to emerging wool and mohair producers through the presence of our field representatives," said Le Roux.
BKB announced also announced an investment of R11 million in a critical skills programme in addition to programmes and initiatives worth R4 million over the last two years.
''We [BKB] are working very closely with government and organised agriculture on several initiatives that will add value to emerging and commercial farmers in the country."
