Hannes and Rita Rossouw’s house sits on top of a red dune in the Kalahari, near Mariental in Namibia, where they have been farming for the past 56 years.

The two-track road leading up to the homestead on the farm Sonop winds from the road to Stampriet, through and over the dune veld that used to be covered with grass patches and a wide variety of herbaceous shrubs and trees.

Now the dunes are empty, leaving the Rossouws victims of the latest drought, which started in 2012.

The worst in a century

Namibia is currently experiencing its worst drought in 100 years, with reports indicating that, as of August this year, 84% of its food reserves had been exhausted. On 22 May 2024, Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba declared a national state of emergency due to the ongoing drought.

In July, Farmer’s Weekly accompanied Henriette le Grange, national coordinator of the Namibia Drought Relief, and her husband Lourens on an animal feed distribution trip to Mariental, which included a visit the Rossouws.

According to Henriette, the severe drought in Namibia has developed into a humanitarian crisis that has left many farmers financially destitute, with many of them not able to put food on the table. The situation was caused not only by the drought, but also by extensive locust outbreaks and wide-ranging veld fires over the past 12 years.

The western and southern parts of the country received virtually no rain and were particularly hard hit. She adds that some areas in the southern region had received far below the average annual rain for the past eight seasons.

“It is our intention to assist these farmers and their families as far as we can, but for that to happen, we need the support of the public at large.”

Livestock cull

After all the rainless years, the Rossouws, owners of the Sonop Damara Stud, were forced to cull almost their entire commercial sheep flock, but have kept a small stud herd for when the rain returns. And according to Rita, the rain will eventually return.

“The fact that the rain will came back someday is the one surety we have. Until then we, like all the other drought-stricken farmers in our country, have no choice but to remain positive and to do the best we can with what we have. Sadly, it is a steep hill to climb. Not only as far as earthly goods are concerned but also to remain emotionally healthy,” she says.

As Hannes put it: “We’ve been on the farm for 56 years, and never have I witnessed such a tragedy. Although we received some rain between 2012 and 2024, it was never enough for the veld to fully recuperate. The current drought has pushed our business over the edge, and we were left with no choice but to remove the majority of our sheep flock, either through slaughtering or sales.”

Exorbitant feed costs

The Rossouws were forced to sell off their cattle a few years ago and are now left with about a quarter of their sheep flock. When the drought began around 14 years ago, there was still some moribund grazing material left, making it possible to get by with bales of grass mixed with the remnants of sociable weavers’ nests, camel thorn and Prosopis pods, molasses meal, and a little bit of maize.

However, since then, the situation has detiorated and they have no option but to buy feed for the remaining few animals, at exorbitant costs.

“This is a very lonely situation we find ourselves in. We can’t offer any of our neighbours help and neither can we expect support from anybody, because the entire country is in the grip of this dearth. The disastrous effect on our financial situation goes without saying. That is why we are so highly appreciative of the sporadic animal feed donations by the Namibia Drought Relief Fund. Not only for the actual products but also for the moral support that comes with it,” says Rita.

Trauma

According to Hannes, one of the most traumatic experiences he has had to bear in his lifetime was witnessing the truckloads of sheep leaving the farm, hauled away for slaughtering at extremely low prices of between R76/kg and R80/kg.

Animal feed prices in Namibia have increased dramatically because of the spike in demand and very low supplies. The feed situation is exacerbated by the fact that feed imports from South Africa are prohibited because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

“Many people have asked us why we still remain on the farm. We do not have a choice. This land is our children’s inheritance, and as its custodians, we are determined to continue. Our family’s lives are grounded on these red Kalahari dunes. This is our earthly foothold, and we are where we are supposed to be. Throwing in the towel is not an option,” she says.

Bare and lifeless

Johnny and Hester Steenkamp farm about 100km south of Mariental in Kalk Plateau, which falls within the Nama-Karoo biome, known for its semi-arid climate and diverse plant life.

Here the plant life is adapted to the challenging environmental conditions of the area, but even the hardiest of grazing plants had, by 2024, succumbed to the drought. The Steenkamps’ farm, Bulwana, has been left bare, devoid of life.

“Our world has been vastly diminished by this drought. Our focus, as well as that of all the other farmers trying to survive, has become limited to the lack of rain and the survival of our animals.

“I have seen young people grow old and old people grow much older, all because of the drought. It seems as if our entire community is suffering from a communal emotional exhaustion coupled with despair, anguish and desperation. The drought has taken away our joy,” says Johnny.

Farmers and their families here are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, with many parents forced to start home-schooling their children because they simply do not have the money to keep sending them to school.

“As employers, it is also our responsibility to look after the people working for us, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. They suffer this hardship with us and are dependent upon us. Were it not for the emotional support from friends and family and organisations like Namibia Drought Relief, I don’t know how we would have managed to remain sane and standing,” Johnny adds.

Email Hannes and Rita Rossouw at [email protected], and Johnny and Hester Steenkamp at [email protected].

@farmersweeklysa Farmers in Namibia are in desperate need of feed and fodder for their livestock as the country is facing extreme drought. #FarmersWeeklySA #agriculturetiktok #farminginnamibia #drought #weather #fodder #animalfeed #droughtrelief ♬ original sound – Farmer’s Weekly SA