Angora project brings mohair training to students

The Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET), in collaboration with Mohair South Africa, recently launched the Fort Cox Angora Goat Pilot Project to provide students at Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in the Eastern Cape (FCAFTI) with hands-on training in mohair production.

- Octavia Avesca Spandiel

The pilot project began with the introduction of 20 wethers to the institute's farm.

Beauty Mokgwamme, MET general manager, told Farmer's Weekly the initiative, called Empowerment Through Education, offered students theoretical and practical exposure to the mohair industry.

“The sessions cover a wide range of topics, including the history of Angora goats, mohair classing skills to understand mohair grading and industry standards, effective livestock management for animal handling, and Angora goat management, which includes health programmes, breeding, shearing, kidding and marketing,” she explained.