The NWGA commissioned an independent study to evaluate the impact of the NWGA’s support programme for wool producers in the Eastern Cape’s rural regions. Baseline values were established in the study of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009. This report is therefore the 6th assessment, five years after the last one that took place in 2015.
From the study, there is a steady significant improvement in the income derived from wool and sheep that contributed in important ways to improve the welfare of rural communities. In 2004, 47% internal income was received, which increased to 59% in 2006, 65% in 2009, and this trend is strongly evident in 2020 with 75%.
The following social indicators were evident (2004 – 2015 – 2020):
- More cellphones than households.
- 100% of households have television and refrigerators where there is access to electricity.
- Children going to bed hungry decreased from 41% to 24% to 6%.
- Household savings accounts increased from 49% to 84% to 94%
- People borrowing money to pay for school fees were at an all-time high of 77%, but decreased to 48%, and is currently at 30%
From the broad responses, most of the participants confirmed that they were happy to be part of the NWGA and the value they derive from their association, such as the increased access to information and formal wool markets.
There is still a large number of challenges both on a farming and social level, many of which still relate to historical poverty, such as access to clean water – most of which are not in the power of the NWGA to change, as issues and challenges, such as land ownership, basic water and sanitation , support for broader crop cultivation including crops for fodder, and work opportunities for younger generations, lie in the domain of broader local, provincial, and national government.
A clip composition case study of communal wool production in the Eastern Cape
A clip composition case study of communal wool production in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Postgraduate study by SM Dreyer, April 2019.
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agriculture at Nelson Mandela University.
Performance characteristics communal woolled sheep
Some performance characteristics of woolled sheep in the Sweet and Sourveld communal rangelands of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Postgraduate study by Mvinjelwa, Sivuyile Alex, November 2013.
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science) at the University of Fort Hare.
NWGA Support Programme – Programme Evaluation Eastern Cape
Optimising production systems
Improving the livelihoods of wool producers in a sustainable manner by optimising the woolled sheep production systems within communal farming. By SE Terblanche and Leon de Beer.
