LIVESTOCK
Help at hand for small pig farmers
B
ecause pig farming is
an intensive and highly
specialised form of
farming, the SA Pork
Producers' Organisation
(Sappo) believes that com-
mercial pork producers must
assist developing pig farmers
for sustainability. Sappo's
Portfolio Committee for
Emerging Farmers is tasked
with co-ordinating and
managing emerging farming
projects countrywide.
Sappo's developing
programme for new produc-
ers mainly focuses on training,
which takes place on
developing pig units, at
farmers' days and by means of
study groups among develop-
ing farmers. Sappo wants to
ensure that these farmers
develop and eventually make
a meaningful contribution
towards commercial and
sustainable pork production in
South Africa.
Farmers who are on the brink
of becoming commercial
producers receive intensive
mentorship that mainly takes
place at pig units. Those
already farming commercially
receive regular and more
focused attention. Provincial
pig veterinarians, who keep a
close watch on the disease
status of the units, regularly
visit them. Sappo pays for
these veterinarian visits.
The number of successful
developing projects in North
West, KwaZulu-Natal, the
Western and Eastern Cape
and in Gauteng proves that
some developing pig farmers
are already crossing the bridge
from just making a living out
of pigs, towards becoming
commercially successful.
For many years smallholders
in Gauteng have been under
the impression that it is illegal
to keep pigs on a smallhold-
ing. However, it is only the
West Rand District
Municipality Municipal
Health Services By-laws that
insist that one needs a permit
to keep pigs. Neverthele ss,
where plot dwellers might
encounter a problem is in the
more universally-promulgated
municipal bylaws which state
that the pigsty may not be
situated within 100 m of the
boundary of the property, or
any dwelling, building or
structure used for human
habitation, or any place
where foodstuffs are stored or
prepared for human con-
sumption, or any water
resource intended for
domestic consumption. This
effectively means that if you
are to keep pigs legally your
property needs to be consid-
erably larger than 2ha to
ensure that you will fulfil the
100m distance requirements
in every respect. But, let's face
15
www.sasmallholder.co.za
it, observance of municipal
bylaws and building regula-
tions has become less and
less rigid in recent years…
So if you've got the space,
consider taking advantage of
Sappo's offer of support.
As with any venture, you first
need to make sure there is
someone who is going to buy
your pigs and pay for them.
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