Giyani farmers relieved at the arrival of the rainy season
Recent rains in Giyani have brought some relief, but local farmers say it's too little, too late, as they continue to struggle with livestock losses.
LIMPOPO – The recent rains that brought a touch of greenery to Giyani’s drought-stricken fields offered a glimmer of hope but ultimately fell short of easing the ongoing crisis for local farmers.
The burst of vegetation, sparked by recent rains, came a little too late for many livestock farmers in Giyani who have already lost animals to drought. Many of them say they are not yet out of the woods, as the grazing land, once a source of nourishment for their livestock, has yet to grow back the grass much needed to revive their dying cattle.
Due to this, some still spend money on feed to preserve what remains of their herds.
“For me, feed supplements are still necessary because there isn’t enough grass for cattle in the bush yet. We probably have to wait a few more weeks before we can say we’re out of danger,” said Thomas Ngobeni from Thomo village, who lost two cows to drought last month.
According to him, more rain is needed in Giyani to speed up the growth of grass; otherwise, farmers will remain at risk.
“Without sustained rainfall, the risk of further livestock losses remains high as more rain is necessary to revive the land and promote the regrowth of grass,” he said. Meanwhile, the Nsami Dam, which supplies water to the residents of Giyani, remains at one of its lowest levels. The dam gained only 0.1% from the recent rains, rising from 11.7% to 11.8%. In comparison, last year, the dam was at 52.2% capacity.
The continuing drought in Giyani underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions, such as the establishment of communal grazing areas where livestock feed would be available throughout the year for local farmers.
This idea was raised during a visit by Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba to Giyani recently.
Speaking at an event in Mphagani village last month where the premier was distributing animal feed supplements to local farmers affected by drought, many residents argued that they needed sustainable assistance rather than one-off “handouts.”
“Instead of giving us occasional handouts, why not provide funding where it matters most…such as helping us establish proper grazing land or supporting our farming activities so we can produce enough food not only for ourselves but also for our animals?” asked Lylance Hlungwani, one of the local farmers in the area.
