New Zealand Government support to South Africa’s wool growing industry

Sheep shearing demonstration by NZ shearer, Mr Allen Gemmell

The New Zealand Government is supporting the development of South Africa’s wool industry, through technical assistance provided by Gemmell Wools (www.shearingsheep.com), to the National Wool Grower’s Association (www.nwga.co.za). This initiative specifically targets communal sheep farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces in South Africa.

South Africa produces ± 48 million kgs of wool each year, 90% of which is exported and amounts to foreign exchange earnings of approximately R2 billion.

The three year project primarily aims to:

• Transfer and increase specialist shearing capability among South African shearers;
• Improve access to and maintenance of basic shearing equipment; and
• Increase the market values for wool through improved wool production, quality, classing, handling and packaging.