Burre Burger helps Aberdeen farmers

ABERDEEN NEWS - The farms to the south-southwest of Aberdeen are among the worst affected by the drought in the region, and relief coordinator Burre Burger's Droogte Hulp project has provided a lifeline to many in the area.

For six years now, farmers Gert and Pietie van Rensburg have struggled with the drought, and they have had to feed their stock every day since 2016. They have lost more than half of their sheep and goats since the drought began, and just last week, Gert had to shoot two goats that were too weak to kid.

In October 2018, the Van Rensburgs received their first delivery from Burger. They share this bounty with 24 other farmers in the area, and make use of three different drop-off points. Each farmer who benefits from the donated load of feed takes along two workers to help with the offloading, and Pietie shares the feed out equally between the recipients.

"[Burger] calls me and tells me that there is a link of maize on its way," Pietie explains. "I then decide whether to offload here on Herbousvlei or at the shooting range, and we meet and I weigh the maize out into 50kg sacks."

The feed varies, and can include silage, butternuts, grass bales, maize and oat bales. During this last year, Pietie has personally supervised the delivery of 51 loads.

"Each load brings hope and relief for a few days, because we don't receive any help from the government," says Pietie. "Just when you think there is no hope left and the feed is almost gone, I get a call from Burger saying feed is on its way. Then we can breathe again for a few days."

The farmers are all extremely grateful to Burger, and all those sponsors who make these donations possible.

Coenie Lategan, Roelfie van der Merwe and Myburgh van Rensburg.