Grain SA’s top four emerging and new-era farmers were honoured at their annual Day of Celebration at Nampo Park near Bothaville. These awards honour farmer development, recognise outstanding achievements, and celebrate transformation in grain production.
Meet the 2024 winners:
Front from left: Jim Besabakhe, Mhlangenqaba Mkizwana and Alfred Gondo.
Mhlangenqaba Mkizwana
Grain SA/ABSA/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer of the Year
77-year-old Mhlangenqaba Mkizwana from Maclear in the Eastern Cape was the oldest finalist in the competition and his devotion to agriculture shows no signs of flagging. Mhlangenqaba follows in the footsteps of his parents, communal farmers who produced maize using animal traction and owned sheep, cattle and pigs. He is chairperson of the Gamakhulu Study Group.
Jim Besabakhe Masemola
Grain SA/Landbank Smallholder Farmer of the Year
Jim Besabakhe Masemola from the Groblersdal area in Mpumalanga has embraced correct production practises and his maize yield has increased dramatically from five to six bag of maize per hectare to at least 7t/ha this season.
Alfred Gondo
Grain SA Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year
Alfred Gondo from Koornfontein in Middelburg began farming grain in 2015/2016, planting only 20ha in his first year. This season he planted more than 100ha (62ha soybeans and 42ha white maize), along with spinach as a cash crop. Despite a tough climate, he achieved 7,7 tons maize/ha and 1,1 tons soybeans/ha. He plans to scale up to 500ha, already leasing another 110ha from a neighbour. Farming is a school of patience and Alfred is taking the time to build the soil health before planting on his new land.
Ranko Petrus Tsotetsi
Grain SA/ABSA/John Deere Financial New-Era Commercial Farmer of the Year
Petrus Tsotetsi from Kestell drove off with the incredible grand prize of a brand new John Deere 5075E utility tractor. He is mixed farmer growing maize, soybeans and sugar beans in rotation on 206ha, 110ha of livestock grazing, as well as a labour-intensive asparagus operation. Petrus started farming in 2010, leaving city life to honour his late father’s faming legacy, and gained knowledge through agricultural courses and Grain SA. He continues to chase his dream of expanding his commercial operation to provide more jobs for his community.
Also read: Get to know Grain SA’s 2024 Emerging and New-Era Farmers
