Sammy Qwayede (27) of Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape is making a massive impact in rural farming communities by improving animal health through her company, ANIMEDS Primary Animal Healthcare Pty Ltd. Since launching her business in 2020, Qwayede has become a lifeline for local farmers, providing vital veterinary services and medications that were previously difficult to access.
After earning her Diploma in Animal Health from Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute, Qwayede quickly realized the gap in animal healthcare in many rural areas of the Eastern Cape. Farmers were struggling to source medication and veterinary services, so she took action.
“I saw how farmers were suffering because they couldn’t get proper animal healthcare services,” she said. “I began saving money and eventually opened a shop to sell veterinary medicine and offer services farmers couldn’t easily find.”
Her company offers a wide range of products and services, including antibiotics, vaccines, dewormers, dip, feed, parasite control, and clinical medication. Farmers can also benefit from advisory services that cover animal healthcare, branding, tags, artificial insemination, sheep shearing, wool sorting, and castration.
To bridge the gap further, Qwayede travels to villages, providing much-needed veterinary services and animal health advice to farmers. ANIMEDS also offers accredited training in animal production, with 20 students currently enrolled, gaining hands-on experience through work-integrated learning.
Qwayede’s journey to entrepreneurship was shaped by her volunteer work as an animal healthcare technician for the provincial Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in 2018. She later worked as a sales agent for a pharmaceutical company and volunteered at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Thanks to various funding bodies, including the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM), and the Eastern Cape Government, Qwayede’s business continues to grow.
For farmers looking for reliable animal healthcare services, ANIMEDS is the go-to solution.
Contact ANIMEDS:
Phone: 061 050 2239
Facebook: Animeds
Email: [email protected]
