By Maile Matsimela
A youth-owned agribusiness based in the rural village of Baziya near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, is celebrating a successful soybean harvest. The team is currently harvesting between 1.5 and 2 tons of soybeans per hectare, valued at over R1.3 million, and will soon begin harvesting maize.
Jay Jay Farming co-owners, Mzimasi Jalisa and Siphe Singasezulu Joyi, are overjoyed by the results of their hard work.
Joyi said they feel positive and hopeful about this harvest. “It has shown us the importance of taking care of our soil through crop rotation and the value of diversifying income streams instead of focusing on one enterprise.”
Jalisa added it’s always rewarding to reap what you sow. “This was our first time planting soybeans and we are happy with the yields for a first attempt. There’s still room to improve, but we’re on the right track,” remarked Jalisa.
Jay Jay Farming’s core operations include grain, vegetable and beef production. The business also offers mechanisation services and mentorship to emerging farmers. Their produce is supplied to OVK, Ikhaya Milling and Ugie Feeds.
Recently, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen elevated soybeans from what he calls a “side-line or just-in-case crop” to a central, strategic component of South African agriculture. In his April 2025 address at the Soy Celebration Day, he emphasised that soybeans are now a catalyst for innovation within the agricultural sector, driving inclusion and representing the future of farming in South Africa amidst growing global demand for plant-based protein, animal feed, and biofuels.
The Minister has also highlighted South Africa’s remarkable transformation from a net importer to a significant exporter of soybeans, with production expected to reach approximately 2.4 million metric tons for the 2024/25 marketing year – a 30% increase from the previous year. He credited this growth to technological advances, including genetically modified seeds (which now account for about 95% of plantings), and has committed to supporting equal opportunity interventions that create inclusive development across the soybean value chain, particularly as domestic demand continues to rise due to expanding poultry consumption.
