28 Sep 2022

Bray community farm project continues to make significant infrastructural development progress under the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID), water development for small herd owners in communal areas package.

Speaking during Kgalagadi District Council on Tuesday, council chairperson Mr Hendrick Jacobs said Ministry of Agriculture has made significant progress in developing one of the Bray community farm paddocks through LIMID under the water development for small herd owners in communal areas package.

So far, he said, Bray community contributed by volunteering to de-bush a 1.4 km line used by drilling vehicles. The HHH Drilling Company, which was awarded the project, has successfully drilled a borehole at the depth of 190 meters with an estimated yield of 15 cubic. The borehole has already been test pumped, registered as BH11495 and was equipped with solar energy. So far, a total of P1.6 million has been paid to HHH Drilling Company out of the total amount of over  P5.7 million (P5 765 290.93.)

Mr Jacobs told council that a 3.5 km trench to the reservoirs was dug and laying of water pipes was at 75 per cent complete, two reservoir bases were complete, and a water tank elevation stand has been constructed. He said a backup generator was on site, its base completed and awaiting to be mounted.

To ensure productivity and project ownership, he said training on livestock management and group dynamics was provided to Bray Village Development Committee and Farmers committee, adding that the Bray village leadership was sensitized on the project on June 8 2022 in Bray. He highlighted that a draft management plan was done in July 2022 where assistance was sought from associate professor of Intrusion at the University of Texas Prof. Thoralf Meyer, to conduct range assessment of the farm using modern technologies.

To facilitate Prof Meyer to complete range assessment, Department of Forestry Management and Range Resources has furnished him with the necessary information adding that the results of the range assessment would be incorporated into the draft management plan to finalise the report.  ENDS