The Farmers Development team of Grain SA held its annual Day of Celebration in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The Day of Celebration, established in 2009, was created to recognise excellence in the field, acknowledge transformation in grain production. The awards included the following: Grain SA Subsistence Farmer of the year, Grain SA Smallholder Farmer of the year and Grain SA Potential Farmer of the year.

Mavis Nomvula Hlatshwayo – Grain SA Subsistence Farmer of the year. 

Mavis Nomvula Hlatshwayo, who farms on one ha of communal land on farm Hereford in Mpumalanga, joined the Lijahsisu Study Group in 2005. “She is generous and willing to share her knowledge with the less experienced farmers in her community,” Jerry Mthombothi, the Development coordinator.

You can watch a video about Nomvula below:

Tembalihle Hopewell Tobo – Grain SA Smallholder Farmer of the year.

Tembalihle Hopewell Tobo, who is currently the chairperson of the Ndunge Study Group, cultivates 25 ha of the Ndunga communal land in the Eastern Cape. “Thembalihle is passionate about farming and keen to share his knowledge,” said Luke Collier, Development coordinator.

You can watch his video below:

Paul Mvelekweni Malindi – Grain SA Potential Commercial Farmer of the year 

Paul Mvelekweni Malindi who farms on 441 ha on the farm Dankbaar in the Eastern Cape, joined  Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme and was one of the founding members of the Edenville Study Group. “This year he has done everything right, he even drove the tractor by himself,” said Johan Kriel, development coordinator.

You can watch his video below:

Grain SA award 

Thalitha Mkhwanazi and Reginah Hlatshwayo from the Hereford West Village near Ermelo in Mpumalanga did not enter the competition. However, Grain SA still awarded them. Their prizes are sponsored by Michris Janse van Rensburg, a farmer from Bultfontein in the Free State. Each farmer received a hand-held planter, a  backsaver hand-held planter and together they received a hand-held fertilizer applicator.