A new layer-hen project aimed at improving food security and creating income-generating opportunities for rural households was officially launched in Batlharos, north of Kuruman, on Monday.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
The project, implemented by the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlhware Traditional Council in partnership with agricultural organisation Saai and civil rights organisation AfriForum, will provide community members with starter packages for poultry production and practical training in layer farming.
The initiative forms part of the Resilient Regenerative Agricultural Initiative (RRAIN), an agricultural development incubator established by Saai and AfriForum to support rural farming projects.
Starter packages and poultry training
Community members participating in the project received starter packs consisting of Boschveld chicks, chicken coops and poultry farming equipment. Training was also provided to equip beneficiaries with the skills needed to manage and grow their poultry enterprises. Project partners say the initiative is designed to help households improve access to affordable protein while creating opportunities for future commercial production.
Food security at the centre of the project
Speaking at the launch, Kgosi Pelonomi Toto, Kgosi of the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlhware and Chairperson of the Traditional Council, said the project would make a meaningful contribution to community development.
According to Toto, the initiative will strengthen food security by improving access to nutritious food while also creating opportunities for community members to gain agricultural knowledge and develop sustainable income streams.
“It is a privilege for us to work with stakeholders who want to make a positive difference at grassroots level,” she said.
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Lenaka Memorial Lecture bears fruit
The project is one of the outcomes of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders’ (NHTKL) second annual Lenaka Memorial Lecture, which was held in Batlharos in November 2025.
Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo, Chairperson of the NHTKL, said the annual lecture was intended not only to celebrate cultural heritage but also to promote socio-economic development within traditional communities.
He said partnerships such as the one launched in Batlharos demonstrate how collaboration can unlock opportunities for sustainable growth and leave a lasting legacy in rural areas.
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Partnership based on mutual recognition
The launch also saw the signing of a mutual recognition and cooperation agreement between AfriForum and the Batlharo Ba Ga Motlhware cultural community.
AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel described the partnership as an example of how different cultural communities can work together to improve livelihoods and build self-sufficient communities.
Kriel thanked agricultural company KLK Landbou for supporting the initiative and helping to make the project possible.
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Empowering rural communities through agriculture
Saai Chairperson Dr Theo de Jager said food security remains a major challenge in many rural areas and that agriculture offers one of the most effective solutions.
“The best way to address food insecurity while creating wealth is to empower people with the will and potential to eventually produce commercially,” he said.
De Jager added that the project would help participants combat malnutrition while developing agricultural enterprises that could generate income.
Small projects can deliver big results
Barend Uys, AfriForum’s Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation, said the initiative demonstrated the value of practical action despite the many challenges facing the country.
He said community leaders and organisations had chosen to work together to improve lives at grassroots level. He expressed hope that the project would inspire greater involvement from both the public and private sectors in sustainable community development.
Uys added that the cumulative impact of similar projects across the country could make a significant contribution to building stronger and more resilient communities.
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