Stories that made an impression in 2018

Getting started with farming

In this collection of photos and quotes from some of the most prominent stories published in

Farmer’s Weekly during 2018, Denene Erasmus, editor of the magazine, looks back on the major themes that received readers’ attention. Judging by magazine sales during the year, the stories that attracted the greatest interest were those that featured information on getting started with vegetable, chicken and pig farming. Readers were also eager to learn more about conservation farming and the production of nuts and blueberries. Articles that detailed how new farmers had managed to gain a foothold in the highly competitive world of agriculture also proved popular.

cracking into a niche market (right) Zama Buthelezi, an award-winning smallscale vegetable farmer, learnt that to make a success in the competitive industry, she needed to find clients and adapt to their requirements. She thus secured a lucrative market for her produce by supplying so-called bakkie traders that collect produce straight from her farm every day before sunrise to deliver directly to her clients ( FW, 2 February).

coming back from a setb ack (below) Leandre Mitchley, a Western Cape pig farmer, was named the department of agriculture’s 2018 Top Smallholder Farmer for the deparment’s annual Female Entrepreneur Awards. After a slow start and a recent major setback, Michley’s award is testimony to her resilience and discipline. Her success also shows how small-scale pig production can significantly boost household income ( FW, 9 November). “The important thing when you’re a small producer is to have good-quality produce to offer your customers, and to make a profit that will enable you to cover production costs so that your business is sustainable.” – Gugulethu Zondi was born and raised in the rural areas of Emathulini and Ozwathini in upper Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal. She spent her childhood herding her father’s cattle, which delayed the beginning of her school career, and she only started Grade 1 when she was nine years old. However, she now runs a successful livestock farming business, and was named the Agricultural Research Council’s 2016 National Emerging Beef Farmer of the Year ( FW, 4 May). “If you fold your arms and wait, you’ll end up doing nothing. When I wanted to replace old piping, I had to take my cattle and sheep to auction.” – Like many other farmers who have benefitted from the state land reform programme, Tembi Xamesi does not own the title deed to the 1 165ha property near Tylden in the Eastern Cape where he farms livestock and lucerne. This has made it very difficult for him to access financing for further development. But, like most other farmers who have been in his position and, nonetheless, made a success of farming, Xamesi has not let this deter him ( FW, 19 October).

“Siyazama is Xhosa for ‘we are trying’. Over the past 12 years, we’ve worked together and tried our utmost to contribute to the farm’s success and create jobs for the local community. It’s safe to say we are now beyond simply ‘trying’; we’ve shown that we can succeed. We should think of changing our name.” – Alec Abrahams, managing director of Siyazama Klipland Boerdery, a BEE table grape company in De Doorns, says that while many land reform projects across the country have failed, theirs was testimony to how projects can succeed with the right attitude ( FW, 27 April).

a touch of destiny (above)

Almost 10 years ago, a twist of fate turned Rico

Vergotine into an egg farmer, who co-owns 51% of an egg business. He now has 2 500 pastureraised layers that produce 1 900 eggs a day. Vergotine implements biodynamic agriculture and regenerative farming practices. “The chickens enhance soil fertility by working their manure into the soil, and they help manage crop pests by grazing on various weeds and insects. The birds can be rotated into pasture following other livestock, such as cattle. By scratching through cow patties, they spread the manure, which helps fertilise the grass grazed by the cattle,” he explains ( FW, 15 June).

striving towards

commercial success (right)

The Sitaram family’s journey to becoming large-scale commercial fresh produce growers was long and difficult. The Sitarams’ first, and perhaps greatest, setback occurred during apartheid, when they were unable to own land on which to develop their commercial farming operation. After decades of farming on leased land, the family bought and developed Tegwaan Nest Farm in the Baynesfield area in 2010 where they now produce lettuce. They specifically chose this crop due to year-round demand and the availability of varieties that can be grown in summer and winter ( FW, 5 October). “Anything that belon gs to everybody belon gs to nobody. That ’s why most lan d refo rm initiat ives fa il.” – Since taking control of the 5 000ha Carnarvon Estates land reform farm near Sterkstroom in the Eastern Cape in 2009, Aggrey Mahanjana, the managing director of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, has personally invested no less than R18 million in a property for which he has no title deed. He says land reform initiatives fail because of inadequate post-settlement support, and because there is often a lack of clear leadership when land is given to communities or groups of farmworkers instead of to individual farmers ( FW, 6 July).