KOUGA – Farmers in the Kouga region received much-needed relief on 17 February when fodder was handed over by Gift of the Givers, a humanitarian disaster organisation, to assist those struggling with damaged grazing land and the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis.
Mario Ferreira, Southern Cape co-ordinator for Gift of the Givers, said the need for fodder became clear following the impact of the January fires.
As previously reported, the Kouga region experienced extensive fires that threatened residential areas, farms, and infrastructure.
The fires, fuelled by dry conditions, strong winds, and difficult terrain, required a coordinated response from municipal, district municipality, and humanitarian resources.
The first major flare-ups were reported on 8 January in the Zwartenbosch and St Francis Bay (Oyster Bay Road) areas, prompting evacuations.
By 11 and 12 January, major fire fronts were largely under control, although mop-up and monitoring operations continued, with some flare-ups persisting near the Kabeljouws River and Oyster Bay.
“While on the ground assisting with the fire, we realised the serious need for fodder. We then began planning to gather fodder for the farmers in the area,” said Ferreira.
He further said that farmers are facing immense financial pressure following the devastating fires and the FMD crisis.
“Farmers are going through a tough time. They have to purchase vaccines to curb the FMD crisis and must purchase fodder for grazing,” said Ferreira.
Cattle vaccination began across Kruisfontein in Humansdorp on 11 February as part of ongoing efforts to contain FMD and prevent further spread.
To assist local farmers, Gift of the Givers reached out to Shoprite, which generously offered transportation for the fodder from Winburg in the Free State to the Kouga region.
READ MORE: Foot-and-Mouth Disease: All livestock in Kruisfontein vaccinated
“We are very grateful for the assistance we have received from Shoprite,” said Ferreira. He added that Shoprite also assisted during the January fires by supporting a soup kitchen that provided meals to residents evacuated from their homes and accommodated at a safe location.
Ferreira said that they plan to hand out a total of five truckloads of fodder by the end of this week, with the first two truckloads delivered on 17 February.
He said that between 10 and 15 farmers received fodder during the first handover.
“The farmers were excited when they received confirmation that the delivery would take place,” said Ferreira.
On 25 January, Heinrich Muller, Shadow MEC for Agriculture, released a statement about the feed crisis following devastating fires and prolonged drought, with grazing destroyed and livestock placed at immediate risk in the western half of the Eastern Cape.
He said that the need for rapid, coordinated feed support is urgent, and delays will translate directly into further losses and long-term damage to food security.
“In the Kouga and Kou-Kamma regions, wildfires have torn through tens of thousands of hectares of farmland, with more than 15,000 hectares in Kou-Kamma alone, destroying natural grazing, fencing, farmhouses, and agricultural structures. In some cases, entire farms have been burnt to the ground, leaving farmers to rebuild while simultaneously trying to keep their livestock alive with limited resources and no remaining pasture,” said Muller.
“For many, livestock is not only a livelihood but a generational asset, and once lost, recovery can take years, if it is possible at all.”
READ MORE: Stray livestock intake paused over Foot-and-Mouth Disease risk
