Thirteen animal health technicians in the Eastern Cape are embarking on an exciting new chapter in their careers, transitioning from trained paraveterinary workers into fully-fledged business owners, and they have the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) to thank for making it possible.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
“The programme is designed to help animal health technicians (AHTs) build sustainable and viable enterprises. It addresses high unemployment levels among AHTs, improves access to animal healthcare services in rural and underserved communities, and promotes entrepreneurship within the veterinary paraprofessional sector,” said ECDC Business Consultant Zoliswa Mnqokoyi.
Mnqokoyi said the ECDC, working in partnership with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture’s Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI), has helped a pioneering cohort of AHTs launch their own private primary animal health facilities. She said the initiative marks a significant step in addressing both rural unemployment and the critical shortage of accessible animal healthcare services in underserved communities across the province.
Bridging a Long-Standing Gap
Animal health technicians are trained veterinary workers who play a vital role in preventing disease, treating animals and supporting farmers – particularly in rural communities where access to qualified veterinarians is limited.
According to Mnqokoyi, despite their skills and value, AHTs were historically prevented from operating private practices due to legislative restrictions. She said this locked many out of meaningful employment, contributing to unemployment rates estimated at between 32% and 60%, according to a 2021 FAO Survey.
That changed in December 2022, when the then Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) amended legislation to allow AHTs to operate as private sector service providers. Mnqokoyi said the reform created new pathways for self-employment and enterprise development and aimed to strengthen animal healthcare delivery at the primary level. However, she noted that despite this legislative breakthrough, uptake remained limited, with many AHTs lacking the entrepreneurial and business management skills needed to take advantage of the new opportunity, while others faced barriers such as limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and regulatory compliance challenges.
“This is precisely the gap the programme set out to close,” said Mnqokoyi.
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A Comprehensive Support Package
Mnqokoyi said the R512 000 investment funded an eight-month training programme as well as entrepreneurial start-up kits for the 13 beneficiaries. She said the in-kind financial contribution went towards the provision of veterinary clinical equipment, consumables, cold-chain solutions and infrastructure support in the form of containers that serve as primary animal healthcare facilities – resources that have empowered AHTs to operationalise their businesses and deliver services sustainably.
She added that the programme went beyond equipment and infrastructure, with beneficiaries receiving training in business planning and financial management. “The AHTs have also benefitted from business plan and financial management training. They have used these business plans as the basis for funding applications,” said Mnqokoyi.
Looking ahead, Mnqokoyi said the ECDC and FAO will continue providing ongoing technical support, monitoring and evaluation, as well as business development assistance to ensure the long-term sustainability of the enterprises. “This includes regular progress reviews, technical oversight, and support to link beneficiaries to relevant agricultural and veterinary value chains to enhance growth and market access. Future intakes will be expanded through a phased rollout informed by the performance of the pilot cohort, resource availability and provincial development priorities,” she said.
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Voices From the Ground
The response from the AHTs has been overwhelmingly positive, with beneficiaries expressing how transformative the programme has been – not just professionally, but personally.
Mount Ayliff-based Zimasa Qwayede said the programme has opened immense opportunities for her. Her business now supplies animal feed, medicine and primary healthcare services in the agricultural sector. For Qwayede, the work goes far beyond generating income.
“Primary animal health care services are essential for strengthening food security, supporting rural livelihoods and ensuring the sustainability of livestock production systems. Our work contributes to disease surveillance, prevention and early intervention, while promoting animal welfare,” she said.
Mthatha’s Wandile Mnono echoed this sentiment, crediting the programme with reshaping his entire outlook on entrepreneurship. “The business management training has helped me integrate animal health expertise with sound business practices. The equipment we received is crucial and will significantly improve primary animal health care services. It will assist me to operate efficiently and effectively in a highly competitive business environment,” he said.
Mnono also highlighted the broader significance of the legislative amendments, noting they now make it far easier for unemployed technicians to establish businesses and earn an income using their paraveterinary skills – a development he believes will have a lasting impact on rural communities across the Eastern Cape.
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