A young North West farmer, Botlhale Jacob Tshabalala, has been crowned the 2025 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year at the Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) Ukukhula Conference and Day of Celebration, held recently at Nampo Park in Bothaville, Free State.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Tshabalala (35), an engineer by profession from Lichtenburg, produces maize, sunflower and beans on Driehoek Farm and runs a thriving Brahman cattle herd. He drove away with a brand-new John Deere 5075E tractor as part of his prize.
Tshabalala left a promising engineering career in 2013 to join his father in farming. Today, his business success reflects a combination of determination, continuous learning and the support of regular study groups and mentorship from Du Toit van der Westhuizen.
Also read: Ukukhula Conference and Day of Celebration – a historic milestone for black grain farmers in South Africa
Tshabalala was honoured alongside other outstanding farmers in the PGP Farmer Development Programme, which recognises excellence in productivity, innovation and resilience. Four national winners were announced in partnership with the programme’s key sponsors:
- 2025 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer of the Year: Rameshego Sarah Mahladi (Mpumalanga)
- 2025 Grain SA/Land Bank Smallholder Farmer of the Year: Itumeleng Naphtaly Mongane (North West)
- 2025 Grain SA Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year: Madinda Jabulani Matshinini (Free State)
‘Transformation and a commitment to continued action’
According to PGP CEO Sibusiso Mabuza, the Day of Celebration marked “a fitting conclusion to a day of insight and inspiration”, honouring farmers whose success stories embody the transformation, growth and shared purpose at the heart of the PGP initiative.
“The Ukukhula Conference represents an engine for transformation and a commitment to continued action,” said Mabuza. “By uniting the conference and the Day of Celebration, we’ve created a full circle, a space where farmers lead the conversation by day and are celebrated for their achievements by night.”
Also read: Sibusiso Mabuza to lead the transformation at Grain SA’s development arm
The PGP programme is Grain SA’s flagship farmer development initiative, supporting black grain farmers from subsistence level to new era commercial production. Through mentorship and training, as well as access to inputs, finance and markets, the programme equips farmers with the tools and knowledge to grow sustainably, driving transformation across South Africa’s grain value chain.
Also read: Here are the Phahama Grain Phakama/Grain SA Development Programme award winners!
PGP chairperson Jeremia Mathebula said ukukhula, meaning “growth”, was the defining theme of the day, symbolising the rise of farmers from subsistence to commercial production as well as the expansion of land, yields and potential.
Mathebula highlighted the tangible progress achieved under the programme: in just three years, PGP-supported production has expanded from 19 000ha and 42 000 tonnes to 24 000ha, with more than 18 000 farmers now benefiting from mentorship, input access, markets and finance.
“Transformation is not a slogan, it is a strategy,” said Mathebula. “It means caring for the land, creating jobs, restoring rural economies and ensuring that black farmers take their rightful place as stewards of South Africa’s future food supply.”
