ZŽƵŶŐ &ĂƌŵĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ zĞĂƌ ĐŽŵƉ ŽƉĞŶƐ
dhe2021 Toyota SA and Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year competition is only scheduled to take place later this year, but Kwanalu is already searching for candidates to represent the province of KZN.
Entries for Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year 2021 are open, with the winner to represent the province at national level.
The annual contest will see the most promising young farmers from all nine provinces compete for the coveted title and drive away in a
Toyota Hilux single cab, among other prizes.
Young farmers under the age of 40, whether they are owners or partners in a farm, male or female and full members of their province’s agricultural unions are eligible for entry.
The judging and evaluation of the farmers and their agricultural practices takes place at provincial level, with applicants being evaluated on all aspects of their business including their overall vision for the future of their farm/business.
The main feature on which the entrants are judged is their management/business philosophy, as well as the technical competence with which this philosophy is applied.
Judges, who visit the farmers on their farms during the selection process, consider all facets of the farmers’ business, from financing, budgets and investment policy, to the technical aspects of livestock breeding systems, disease control, pasture systems and plans, to the fertilization, weed control and cultivation practices of crops and orchards.
Labour philosophy and housing, attitude, and reaction towards land reform and black economic empowerment, as well as personnel practices, involvement in organised agriculture and the community, and even layout and appearance of the farm and farmyard are all areas in which the potential future Young Farmer of the Year is judged.
In 2019, a Zululander - 38-yearold eShowe sugarcane farmer, Simon D’Aubrey - was awarded the provincial title of Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year 2019.
Young farmers wishing to enter the 2021 competition can visit Kwanalu’s website to download the necessary documentation.