20 September 2023
By: Carien Kruger
Niel Wilke’s approach to employee development ensured that the Eastern Cape dairy farmer was named this year’s winner of the Milk Producers Organisation (MPO) Nedbank Stewardship Award.
Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the MPO, says it was difficult to pick a winner from the four finalists. “Everyone is passionate about what they do, they are dedicated, and their approach to their employees is nothing short of inspiring.”
The other three finalists were Dian Landman from the Eastern Cape, Coenraad Basson from the Western Cape and Shaun van Huyssteen from KwaZulu-Natal.
Wilke, from Glentana farm in the Kookhuis area, is passionate about creating an environment where each team member can take true responsibility for what is entrusted to them, according to a statement by Nedbank.
“He believes that the farm belongs just as much to every employee as it does to him, and that they all work together to achieve the common goal of growing their business. Employee development is a crucial part of sustainable farming, and it is clear that Niel manages it successfully,” says Ferreira.
The stewardship award recognises dairy farmers who are excellent stewards of their agricultural businesses. Stewardship is about sustainability in a broader context and includes the protection of natural resources, fair and ethical treatment of people and animals, the production of a safe and nutritious product, and profitable farming.
Wilke says his stewardship journey began with a focus on soil health. “Optimising our soil health has resulted in better feed, which has led to healthier and happier cows, ultimately resulting in reduced costs in terms of production inputs and feed.
“The financial viability of farming sustainably is, therefore, the greatest, most immediate benefit, but it is about sustainability and resilience in all its forms, and empowering employees to truly be partners in your business is part of it,” he says.
This is the fifth time Nedbank has sponsored the award. Daneel Rossouw, head of agriculture sales at Nedbank Commercial Banking, says the award aligns with the bank’s commitment to mitigating climate change, a defining issue of the 21st century.
Without urgent action and cooperation from all stakeholders, prospects for economic development, food security and social wellbeing are expected to deteriorate, says Rossouw. The bank believes it has a significant role to play in helping to develop agriculture in this regard, and it focuses on climate change, soil health, water efficiency and renewable energy.
“Our sponsorship objectives are to recognise and reward the climate-smart practices successfully applied on every farm; to share this knowledge and successes with others; and to raise greater awareness of climate change among dairy farmers,” says Rossouw.
