Epukiro communal farmers from the Motsweding settlement in the Omaheke Region are caught up in a battle against persistent drought, which has fuelled the high costs of animal feed.

With limited rainfall and feed prices skyrocketing, these farmers are struggling to sustain their livestock.

The cost of animal feed has become unbearable, as suppliers take advantage of the crisis, raising prices at a time when farmers need support the most.

Even though some relief has arrived with sporadic rain showers, many are not confident that it will last long enough to bring the situation back to normal.

Emmanuel Limon is one of the farmers who is going through these harsh conditions as the soil has been dry for many years.

"There is nothing on the ground. The animals cleaned up. The few drops of rain we got gave little life to the bushes with some leaves. Animals are getting a little bit of something. But if the rain doesn't continue, there is no hope."

Faced with this dire situation, many farmers have turned to an unexpected solution, which is making their own animal feed.

Armed with feed crushing machines, they mix local ingredients like grass from commercial farms, camelthorn pellets, salt, and molasses to create affordable feed alternatives.

It's labour-intensive work, but for farmers like Limon, it's a lifeline.

"Currently, the livestock feed is too expensive in the shops. You have to be innovative; otherwise, you won't survive. Therefore, I got myself a crushing machine so that I could mix my own feed."

In the battle to feed their animals, the farmers of Epukiro are showing resilience, but with the high cost of feed still a looming threat, they hope for more than just rain and sustainable solutions.