A group of 12 Northern Cape cattle farmers reached out to the Beefmaster group last year as part of their efforts to develop their small-scale farms to a level where they can participate in commercial trade.
Owen Segano Modiradijo from Kuruman, one of the farmers, says their cooperative, Ambition Farms, emerged from their collaboration, which started as a type of “cattle stokvel”. In this setup, four farmers would each receive a calf from the other farmers annually, meaning every farmer would receive eight calves every three years.
“At that time, our sales outlet was mainly group gatherings, and we were not getting the prices we wanted for our cattle. That’s when we decided to approach the Beefmaster group for help,” said Modiradijo.
Each farmer’s herd consists of 20 to 100 Brahman, Bonsmara and Beefmaster cattle.
The Beefmaster group says that with about 40% of South Africa’s 14 million cattle owned by emerging or communal farmers, it wants to promote inclusive growth in the industry, especially because many of these farmers often do not receive the necessary support in a complex and competitive environment.
Pilot project
Ambition Farms contacted the Beefmaster group’s animal health specialist, Thapelo Kgosi (King) Ramokala, in October 2023 with a request for assistance. Since then, the collaboration has grown into a pilot project.
“At Beefmaster, we believe in the potential of emerging farmers to make meaningful contributions to the agriculture industry,” says Ramokala. “That is why we forge strong relationships with primary producers, regardless of race, to help emerging farmers improve the quality and sustainability of their herds.”
The Beefmaster group is committed to equipping these farmers with the tools they need to thrive, offering practical advice and recommendations on vaccinations, supplements and deworming. The group is actively involved with the 12 farms to improve their livestock breeding techniques.
“My biggest contribution is to find ways to improve the health of their herds. The healthier the herd and the better the weight management, the better the farmer can compete,” explains Ramokala.
The first commercial sale of 120 calves from the group took place on June 9 and Modiradijo says they saw an improvement in prices. “We are delighted that Beefmaster will buy our calves. We hope to reap the financial rewards of all our hard work.”
Another transaction is planned for September, October or November.
“One of our big problems is that we farm on communal land. We are trying our best to elevate ourselves and expand, but because we only have access to communal land it is difficult,” says Modiradijo.
Expansion of the project
Ramokala says while the farmers face certain limitations or challenges, it remains possible for a small-scale farmer to achieve commercial success.
“This project is not a one-off initiative. It emphasises identifying and selecting promising emerging farmers and providing tailored support and resources to improve their operations and market access.”
In addition to the Ambition Farms cooperative, there are plans to expand the project to the rest of South Africa, starting with other small-scale farmers in the Northern Cape and Western Cape.
Some of the obstacles that need to be overcome to establish a healthier herd include the threat of livestock disease outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth, a lack of strict biosecurity measures, the extent to which the industry enforces such measures, violations of rules and regulations, insufficient vaccination and a lack of awareness.
“One of the key objectives of this project is to create sustainable ways for emerging farmers to elevate their operations to a higher level and achieve commercial success,” says Ramokala,
“Through targeted interventions and continuous support, we strive to unlock the full potential of these farmers and bring about positive changes within their communities.”
