8 February 2024
By: Charl van Rooyen
There was loads of good advice from agricultural experts who spoke to the 200 farmers attending the first day of the two-day African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo in Boksburg.
Dr Obakeng Mfikwe (KMF Farms): A lot of people will help you, but you must understand that mentorship does not solve everything. You need specialist advice. Do good planning. Success is not always guaranteed. Nurture and celebrate every small bit of success. Do not start too big. Start farming on a small, good foundation and make sure you can manage it. Then you can grow as your expertise increases.
Duncan Serapelwane (Moalosi Bonsmaras): Farming is basically about survival of the fittest. Run your race, then you will succeed. Do not mix politics with farming. Go and vote but come back and then concentrate on farming.
Vito Rugani (Greenway Farms and Rugani Juice): When you hear that the European Union farmers are complaining because they cannot survive without subsidies, you realise how tough it is for our farmers to survive without subsidies. People always want to join you so they can also soak up your success. I learned that you are not going to be successful listening to people with their own ideas. It takes courage to admit that your thinking was wrong. Make a thorough study before you take on something new.
Amos Njoro (Ya Rona Temo): Most important is to be always present on your farm. The best fertiliser for your crops and medicine for your cattle and sheep is your footsteps. That means you must not just be a farmer; you must be there to achieve success.
John Devonport (Devlan Limousins): Bigger does not necessarily mean better. It is better to utilise your available land optimally rather than to have more land. Do not spend more money than you earn. Only spend what you have available.
Stehan Cloete (Afgri): There are different practices for different kinds of agriculture. Make sure you follow the relevant guidelines. Decide what goals you want to achieve and then get hold of the right technology.
Mokgethi Tshabalala (Thebe Investment Corporation and GrowFresh market agents): The biggest mistake is not to make sure there is a market for the crop you want to plant. Many people first plant and then want to look for a market. Often, they cannot sell the products.
Lennox Plaatjies (Pals): Not everybody can farm commercially. We help to establish farmers.
Leona Archery (Agricultural Development Agency): Anybody can partner with us but some of us can do things better than others. We look for solutions to get help to grow new farmers.
Aubrey Retjomane (potato farmer): A farmer is not made, he is born. I have a lot of guys who are starting on a few hectares of land but when I drive around, I can see how hard it is. So, mentorship is very much needed, for example for the best time of planting, otherwise you may harvest nothing. Crop rotation is also very important. So, the land is there but in the wrong hands. Don’t just drive around your fields. Get out of your bakkie, walk around and dig with your hands.
Tobias Doyer (Grain SA): It takes years of dedication to achieve success. What makes you successful is that you need a passionate farmer, mentor, neighbours and community. The biggest advantage that Grain SA has is that there are farmers who are willing to help emerging farmers. The more potholes you encounter, the more expensive farming is.
