For small-scale farmers in Loeriesfontein, keeping livestock healthy through prolonged drought conditions has become an increasingly difficult challenge, as dwindling grazing and rising feed costs place added pressure on farming households.
Against this backdrop, 104 small-scale farmers have received much-needed livestock feed support, helping them maintain their herds during a particularly challenging period. The beneficiaries, who are members of the area’s two registered farmers’ unions, represent the vast majority of small-scale farmers in the local community.
The support was provided under a local enterprise development initiative, following a funding request from one of the two farmers’ unions. Over a three-month period, farmers received 50 kg bags of pellets, maize, and a molasses-based protein supplement containing energy and minerals — additional nutritional support for their livestock that helped supplement limited grazing during the drought.
To ensure the support reached farmers fairly and according to need, feed allocations were calculated based on the size of each farmer’s flock.
“We are incredibly grateful for the feed. We could not have asked for better support. With the drought conditions we are facing, we would have really struggled without this assistance. The support came at just the right time, and we are truly thankful. We simply cannot afford to buy feed ourselves,” said one beneficiary farmer.
The intervention, funded by Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms, recognises the important role that livestock farming plays in Loeriesfontein, where sheep farming is a key part of the local economy. For farmers who rely on their herds to generate income, losing livestock during drought can have a direct impact on their families’ ability to make ends meet.
“Loeriesfontein is well known for its livestock industry. By helping farmers maintain healthy livestock during challenging periods, we are contributing to the sustainability of livelihoods that the broader community depends on,” said Gwynne-Lee Borcherds, Social Programme Manager for Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms.
Beyond providing immediate drought relief, the initiative aims to contribute to the long-term sustainability of local farming livelihoods. The longer-term vision is for small-scale farmers to build larger herds, access greater farming opportunities and potentially expand into commercial-scale agriculture, including through opportunities to tender for government farms.
