Empowerment

Thirty-five-year-old, Nono Sekhoto, joined her father’s farming operation, Makolobane Farmers Enterprises near Senekal, in 2011. Realising the importance of being part of a network, she joined the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa, where she sits on the national executive committee and advocates for young farmers’ needs.

Anton Alexander, 2016 Western Cape Prestige Agri Worker of the Year, started working as a general worker and rose through the ranks to become a human resources officer on Ouwerf Farm near Vyeboom. He spoke to Jeandré du Preez about his journey to success and what the award meant to him.

In response to the devastating drought in their area, a group of Hluhluwe commercial farmers has exemplified the spirit of ubuntu by assisting communal farmers.

Lesedi Day Care was established by Katlego Sitrus to provide a safe and nurturing environment for farmworkers’ children. Wilma den Hartigh visited the farm school near Marble Hall.

Neville Fletcher of Cathcart in the Eastern Cape is an extraordinary man. A war veteran who saw action in the fierce Italian campaign, he returned to South Africa to enjoy a long, highly successful farming career. As if that were not enough, he was a national champion in both tennis and gymkhana. Mike Burgess visited him.

Walter Gouveia and Kobus Schoeman believe it is up to younger farmers to break the mould of conventional farming practices and stereotypes and farm sustainably for the future. They now mentor students to ensure that this message is widely spread.

More than two decades into South Africa’s democracy, progress in righting the wrongs of land ownership patterns established by the Natives Land Act of 1913, has been dismally slow. Moreover, few workable solutions are in sight.

Communal farmers often struggle with low birth and survival rates amongst their livestock. Determined to change this, empowerment company, Mngcunube Development, is now in its third decade of supplying animal health products to farmers. Mike Burgess visited the Elundini municipal area of the former Transkei.

An old Eastern Cape pineapple farm has been revitalised to provide job opportunities for the local community. This year, the first harvest is expected to earn more than R1,5 million.

Only a handful of black pig producers in South Africa have achieved commercial status. Most run small operations that make only a marginal contribution to total pork production.

Tembeka Mbeshu, the 2016 Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year for the Eastern Cape, runs a herd of about 30 predominantly Bonsmara-type cows in the Elliot district. Mike Burgess visited her to learn how her beef enterprise has helped provide her children with an education.

Mike Mlengana, director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), spoke to Wilma den Hartigh about his plans for the agricultural industry, why he is concerned about the declining number of farmers in South Africa, and why commercial food producers are crucial for the future of the sector.