Two smallholder cotton communities in Limpopo and Mpumalanga packed their last woolpack by hand in August, after welcoming new baling machines. With automated baling these communities can look forward to making bigger margins on their cotton crop. African Farming’s Robyn Joubert reports.

Agricultural services company FarmSol Holdings is keenly focused on supporting the needs of black farmers. The FarmSol model aims to incubate emerging farmers into thriving businesses, by linking them to the key pillars of growth: access to markets, finance, training and mentorship. Peter Mashala spoke to FarmSol managing director Aron Kole about their track record in sustainable development.

Sithembele Malgas has run a successful vegetable and beef cattle farm in the Eastern Cape for 20 years, employing eight full-time workers. Although he moved out of agricultural extension services many years ago, his passion for transferring skills remains and he continues to mentor and inspire upcoming farmers. Peter Mashala visited him on his Idutywa farm.

Tiger Brands, the country’s largest food manufacturer, is committed to supporting South Africa’s black farmer suppliers through its enterprise and supplier development programme. A key aspect of this is the aggregator model, which builds both smallholder and commercial farmers. Peter Mashala caught up with Litha Kutta, Tiger Brands’ enterprise and supplier development director, to learn more about this initiative.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. As an African man your bank is in your kraal,

Solly Mafuya started farming part-time in 1991 but spent most of his career in the corporate world. When he retired in 2008, he turned to farming full time, pinning his hope on the versatile Dohne Merino sheep breed. He spoke to Peter Mashala about his long-standing passion for the industry.

Thousands of small communal wool farmers will lose out on progress that has been made in their industry over the past 20 years, if the state does not make its contribution to the NWGA’s successful wool improvement project. By Fredalette Uys.

CATTLE Mojalefa Tlou, Waterval, North West Province We have not had any rain and are expecting our summer calves in the next few weeks. Our

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN? The best advice was to stop terminal crossbreeding and stick to the Indigenous Veld Goat

Vhutolo Khangale believes farming is the best way to fight poverty. He says easy-care, hardy and adaptable indigenous veld goats have tremendous economic value to offer, especially to Africa’s poorly resourced smallholder farmers. Vhutolo talks to Peter Mashala about the benefits of farming the Indigenous Veld Goat breed.

VEGETABLES Sithembele Malgas, Idutywa, Eastern Cape I farm cabbage, spinach and butternut on rotation on a 3.5ha plot that I have subdivided into five sections.

The HandPicked agricultural skills development programme from Mr Price Foundation is using vertical crop production to create entrepreneurial opportunities for agricultural students and home growers. The foundation is seeing valuable early results from this corporate social investment programme, including growing more food, closer to markets. African Farming’s Robyn Joubert visited the project.