Rural household sources of income, livelihoods strategies and institutional constraints in different commodity contexts - Institutional Constraints to Small Farmer Development in Southern Africa - page 48

advantage of the beauty and quality of the Nguni skin. Top furniture and interior designers
are also known to be excited about high quality of Nguni cowhide due to its multiple
colours and toughness.
2.11.4 Draught power
Nguni cattle are good draught animals; they are used to provide traction power during
cultivation or transportation of goods (Bester et al. , 2003). Since some communal farmers
do not own cattle, and most of them cannot afford to purchase or hire tractors for tillage
(Chimonyo et al. , 1999), Nguni cattle can be a source income to farmers through provision
of draught power to neighbours. This can only be achieved if Nguni cattle farmers can
market this service to their neighbours by informing them at community gatherings about
the service they can offer, especially those without cattle. If the animals can be well trained,
they can be used to pull wagons and this form of transport commands significant tourist
attraction. The Nguni cattle owners can advertise this service in tourist magazines or
provide wagons at tourist centres near their communities.
2.11.5 Manure
Manure plays a key role in crop production by providing essential crop nutrients (Chimonyo
et al. , 2000). In addition, the use of fertilizers is now becoming unattractive due to their effect
on the environment. This creates a big demand for manure as source of organic nutrients for
food and fodder crops. Nguni cattle producers can sell manure to their neighbours. Cattle
owners can also combine their manure and sell them to large companies that manufacture
organic fertilizers. Cow dung can be a source of income in some communal areas where fire
wood and electricity are not available.
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