According to Kobus de Klerk, who owns the Mount D’Urban Campsite in partnership with his wife Kirsty and his parents Boeta and Mariette on the family farm near Helmeringhausen, the tourism concern has played a vital role in keeping the farming business afloat during taxing seasons of severe drought.
“Namibia went through a devastating drought between about 2012 and 2019. The campsite played a valuable role in 2019, when the drought was at its worst. The campsite was able to supplement enough income to cover some of the farm’s running costs. In some ways it took pressure off having to sell more stock to buy feed during the drought. Value-wise, in today’s market, it could probably be worked back to roughly 200 marketable lambs,” he says.
The farm is situated in the south-western part of Namibia, 23km north of Helmeringhausen. Separated by the Swartrand mountain range, it stretches about 9 000ha from the edge of the mountain range westward, while the remaining 13 000ha is situated on top of the Swartrand range, extending eastward for about 10km.
The farming business consists primarily of commercial cattle and goat production. In the 1970s, the farm belonged to Consolidated Diamond Mining and was drawn on to supply the operations in Oranjemund with meat products for their workforce.
Remnants of the old feedlots can still be found on the farm today. Coming from the Eastern Cape, the De Klerk family partnership bought the farm in December 1985. It was stocked with cattle and they introduced Angora goats, which was a first for the area, as karakul had predominantly been farmed in the region.
Esta historia es de la edición 22+29 December 2023 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición 22+29 December 2023 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Uncertainty over Trump's stance on AGOA
It is of vital importance that that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) be upheld following the recent US presidential election, in which Donald Trump emerged as the winner.
Plum pollen study reveals varietal differences in pollination effectiveness
A new study undertaken near George, Western Cape, explored pollination in plum varieties, showing key differences in pollen quality. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on the research findings.
Study: small cuts to beef production could eliminate years of emissions
In a paper published in early November, scientists reveal that pasturelands, in particular those that were once forests, hold great potential for mitigating the effects of climate change.
Harnessing wind for cleaner energy
At the Windaba Conference and Exhibition, held in October in Cape Town, Western Cape, Niveshen Govender, CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the state of wind energy in the country and the opportunities that farmers can exploit.
The Cape Grace: a Cape Town icon is reborn, and her new custodians shine
Brian Berkman has had the exceedingly good fortune of spending many nights at the Cape Grace Hotel over the years. He revisits it to find it as impressive as ever.
Cutting-edge tech aiding the agri sector
Toyota Material Handling's innovations conserve resources and reduce the environmental footprint of farming operations.
Use the correct growing medium for safe seedling production
Instead of buying expensive growing mediums for seedlings, farmers can make their own mixtures from local resources, such as manure, which are economical and produce excellent results
Optimising cherry production and quality
Growing cherries in a suboptimal climate requires manipulating trees and temperatures. But with a considerable market advantage, it is worth the effort. Lindi Botha visited ZZ2's Toscana farm, which for four weeks of the year takes prime position in the cherry market.
Biosecurity & nutrition: the foundation of pig farming success
JD Mostert, a consulting swine nutritionist at CS Vet, and Dr Stefan Steyn, a veterinarian at Afrivet, shared their expertise with Sinenhlanhla Mncwango, delving into why biosecurity and nutrition are critical pillars in establishing and maintaining a productive pig farm geared for long-term success.
The business of pig farming: practical steps for success
Running a pork farm requires knowledge and expertise. Mosele Lepheane, director of a small piggery in the Free State, spoke to Sinenhlanhla Mncwango about the structured approach needed to succeed, from drafting a business plan and managing cash flow to sourcing equipment and expanding market access.
