By Gerrit Bezuidenhout
Meshack Ndongeni, a cattle and sheep farmer from Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal, was named this year’s Toyota SA/Agri SA New Harvest Farmer of the Year. Meshack received his award at a glittering gala event at the Radisson Hotel in Johannesburg.
“It’s just me, my wife, and one son running the farm with a work ethic inspired by my mother. My father passed away when I was seven years old and it was she who led us by example,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Earlier this year, Potatoes South Africa named Ndongeni the Commercial New Era Potato Producer of the Year.
This was the 16th time the New Harvest Farmer of the Year Award was presented. The other finalists in this category were Raymond Koopstad, who farms with stone fruit and nectarines in the Ceres district, Theo Adams, a protea, honeybush and sheep producer from the Herold near George in the Southern Cape, Mapidianye Manoto, a maize, sunflower and cattle farmer from Lichtenburg, and Thulani Magida, a vegetable farmer with potatoes, butternuts, cabbage, pumpkin, green peppers and onions from the Keiskammahoek district in the Eastern Cape.
Collaboration is key
“Group dynamics in the Communal Farming Association of the Year category are extremely important, and therefore the association must have been in operation for three years to qualify for the award,” said Prof. Carlu van der Westhuizen.
The Modulaqhowa Primary Cooperative Limited from Botshabelo in the Free State was crowned as the winner. They produce indigenous tree seedlings, fruit trees, roses, vegetable seedlings and shrubs.
The runners-up were the Mahasheng Association, a farming association from the Matatiele region in the Eastern Cape, which farms cattle and sheep, and Bathlako Temo Service from the Brits district, which grows citrus, among other things.
Passion, perseverance makes the difference
“Producers are the heart of a nation. When you look at the passion for agriculture, you will understand where we come from and where we are going. Award events like this are to recognise outstanding producers at all levels for their hard work, sacrifices and continuous efforts on their farms. It also serves as an inspiration to others and through this we want to encourage others to reach the same heights. Finally, the awards serve as a showcase to show what agriculture is capable of,” said Jaco Minnaar, chairman of AgriSA.
Leon Theron, senior vice-head of sales and marketing at Toyota SA, called for agriculture to continue to thrive. “Agriculture must never become irrelevant. It is the lifeblood of the country and just as it is necessary for us as a car manufacturing industry to negotiate with government, agriculture must also continuously execute it.”
Theron said Toyota certainly sees signs of excellence in the government’s efforts, but that it also needs to come from business and agriculture to engage with the government in order to remain relevant.
