19 July 2023
The University of Pretoria approached the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA) to assist with a study tour of the Eastern Cape by exchange students from the University of Ghent in Belgium.
The 11 students came from all over the word, including Luxembourg, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, China, Peru, Uganda, Zambia and Germany.
They were accompanied by two South African students who helped with local travel arrangements and translation, as well as Dr Danie Jordaan and Mariette du Plessis from the University of Pretoria.
They are completing a MSc studies in rural development, and chose South Africa above Vietnam and Italy to perform a case study.
The group began with a week of lectures in Pretoria, preparing a questionnaire addressing pertinent challenges and opportunities to various stakeholders.
They spent the first two days of their tour of the rural Eastern Cape in the Middledrift district, where 18 communal wool farmers representing Ndindwa Wool Growers’ Association share their experiences. The following day they observed a flock competition in Peddie, remarking on the quality of communal flocks.
From there they visited a scouring, carbonising and combing plant, an industrial yarn spinner and a boutique weaving mill specialising in wool, mohair, silk, linen and alpaca.
Dr Stuart Varrie of Cape Wools SA explained wool industry structures and the importance of biosecurity measures, and Leon de Beer of the NWGA gave a presentation on the production advisory services that are provided on contract for Cape Wools SA, as well as the transformation programme. These topics sparked much conversation and many questions.
The purpose and function of a broker in the wool selling process were highlighted during a visit to a broker store where wool is received, weighed, sorted, blended, sampled and displayed before it heads to the auction.
The case study week concluded at Hartebeesfontein in Humansdorp, where Jaco Zietsman provided insight into the functionality of a commercial farm and the practices essential for a successful farming enterprise.
