JEFFREYS BAY – Supporting small-scale farming enterprises is vital for strengthening local food systems, creating economic opportunities, and building resilient rural communities.
To help advance this goal, new research has commenced in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality to better understand the state of pig farming within local communities.
The study will assess current production conditions, identify challenges, and map opportunities for growth across the value chain.
The study, commissioned by Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, builds on several years of support provided to Siyavuma Piggery, a small-scale operation based in Kruisfontein.
This support has helped the piggery steadily strengthen its operations, most recently through the renovation of a pig enclosure to enhance animal welfare and production efficiency.
Nonini Makhothe, Economic Development Specialist for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, which is funding the research study, said, “Agriculture is one of the dominant sectors in our municipal area, and we believe that piggery production could become an important subsector. Given this and the high mortality rate of pigs in the area, largely due to inadequate infrastructure, we have prioritised support for local piggeries through infrastructure investment, skills development, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This approach helps drive meaningful rural enterprise growth and diversification.”
It is anticipated that the study’s findings will assist local stakeholders in stimulating a more sustainable pork value chain, creating jobs, strengthening food security, and building a network of capable local suppliers such as Siyavuma Piggery.
Siyavuma is a strong example of what becomes possible when local agripreneurs receive targeted, long-term support. In recent years, improved infrastructure, specialised equipment, better waste management systems, and ongoing business training have helped transform the piggery into a more sustainable operation that provides work opportunities to community members.
This support is especially significant given the farm’s previous 80% piglet mortality rate in 2023.
Thanks to a new farrowing house, improved gestation facilities, and ongoing training and mentorship, the farm has made remarkable progress, reducing mortality to 10% by September 2025 and now moving steadily toward the industry-standard target of 8%.
Marvin Witbooi, Chairperson of Siyavuma Piggery, said, “Thanks to the support, we are now in a better position to plan for growth. Going forward, we aim to expand our herd, improve our breeding management, and increase the amount of pork we can supply to local markets. The support has given us a stronger and more stable foundation to build on.”
With the commissioning of this new study, Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm continues to invest in local economic development, helping to build stability within the surrounding community.
