Empowerment

David Matobako, an ambitious young farmer, is proving that agricultural reform is not an idle dream. Susan Botes-Marais visited him on his Free State farm and saw how a sound partnership is making his dream of commercial grain farming come to life.

Erik Phinallephe (55) was born and raised in Stellenbosch and started working as a general farm labourer when he was only 12.

Hard work and tenacity have turned a tiny enterprise into a flourishing commercial operation.

Your Future Dairy Training offers aspiring farmers hands-on and practical training.

Pinky Buthelezi never dreamt that leaving rural KwaZulu-Natal for Gauteng in 2000 would result in her receiving the ARC’s 2013 Gauteng Emerging Beef Farmer award. Mike Burgess visited her on Leeuwfontein near Nigel to learn how she developed from cashier to farmer.

SA Stud Book-Farmer’s Weekly 2014 Mentor of the Year, Pat Hobbs, is highly respected among the Nguni breeders’ community – not only for producing top quality stud cattle, but for his willingness to assist inexperienced Nguni breeders with advice gained through years of farming. Grant Hollins travelled to the Eastern Cape to learn more about Pat’s breeding and mentoring skills.

Agri science student Lisa Coetzee was one of only two South Africans chosen to attend the Youth Ag Summit in Canada in 2013. Building on her experiences there, she has formed an organisation dedicated to youth in agriculture. Annelie Coleman spoke to her.

Despite lacking farming experience, Carole Kirkwood Pretorius converted a rundown Karoo farm into a small but commercially viable enterprise in only six years.

Through dedication and hard work, William Matasane of Senekal in the Free State has changed from being a restaurant manager to an award-winning commercial farmer in less than 10 years. Peter Mashala visited him on his farm Keurfontein.

Martin Fick and Adriaan Olivier led a group of ostrich farmers in the Eastern Cape to success.

A honey bee farming initiative started by Reginald and Irma Jacobus in Friemersheim has brought hope to this rural town by helping to stem the tide of unemployment and poverty. Denene Erasmus reports.

The Onverwacht community, with support from Food and Trees for Africa, an international NGO, has opted for a more sustainable solution than RDP housing to improve their lives. Peter Mashala reports.

Rooibos has been grown in Wupperthal in the Western Cape for almost 200 years. Recently, the small industry has become more profitable, thanks to a co-operative formed to gain Fairtrade certification.

Millions of rands are pumped into farmer development projects in the government and private sectors, yet hundreds of these projects fail within their first year. Mandla Nkomo, programme manager for agribusiness and food security for TechnoServe SA, explains to Peter Mashala what makes his company’s projects successful.

Horse racing is widely enjoyed in South Africa and abroad. Before a Thoroughbred is ready for the track, an enormous amount of effort, expertise and specialist skill has gone into the breeding and rearing of the animal. At Summerhill Stud, a unique school is teaching these skills. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Marius Herman from Kraaifontein started farming with pigs six years ago and in a short time has managed to establish a viable small business. Denene Erasmus visited him.

Lawrence and Simphiwe Mtswene’s farm near Nigel is due to benefit from the Recapitalisation and Development Programme, a boost after the couple’s long financial struggle. Peter Mashala reports.

Community non-profit organisation, Letsha la Eleroi, farms on a small scale to provide fresh vegetables to the sick and the elderly. Project chairperson Beauty Tsokunyane tells Peter Mashala how the project progressed from home-based care to a profitable operation.

The ANC’s attempt to justify and even, it seems, encourage dodgy dealings is an affront to Africans.

The Christmas Fair Fund was started in Stanger by a group of young farmers’ wives 60 years ago – and the organisation has brought hope and upliftment to the region ever since. Robyn Joubert visited them.