De Aar Solar Power announced its support to the value of more than R1-million for the Pride Rock and Nieuborn ostrich farms last month. The farms, both located in De Aar, in the Northern Cape, form the cornerstone of the solar farm’s enterprise development programme.

“We are committed to supporting emerging farmers as our primary area of enterprise development support and have selected two 100% black-women-owned ostrich farming enterprises as beneficiaries,” says De Aar Solar Power plant manager Cornell Mouton.

South Africa is the world leader in ostrich production, with 75% of the global market share. Although the Northern Cape does not currently feature significantly in ostrich farming, it has the potential to develop, with its ideal dry climate and available land.

“We believe that the impact of the funds from De Aar Solar Power on the two businesses will be easily quantifiable and, as these enterprises have been running for several years, there is limited risk of the projects failing,” he adds.

Pride Rock Ostrich Farm has received about R400 000 to primarily boost the income of the farm, enabling the enterprise to become financially self-sustaining.
Mouton says the farm will now be able to breed its own birds, process the meat and the leather and sell the products for the full profit. Funds from De Aar Solar will be used to buy equipment and produce to resource the farm with new camps, as well as ostrich stock and feed, ensuring sustainability and growth.

Nieuborn Ostrich Farm currently accommodates up to 3 000 ostriches in a season. The con- tribution of about R700 000 has been allocated to procuring equipment and produce to allow for the construction of new camps and to buy new stock that will result in additional income.

The funds are also intended to assist in setting up specifically allocated facilities to house ostrich chicks.

“There is so much potential on this farm, as the owners of Nieuborn have 15 years’ experience in the industry and just needed the extra support to enable the enterprise to grow,” concludes Mouton.