A (last) word from… Jerry Mthombothi

May 2024

After 20 years, it is time to call it a day. A big thank you to Grain SA for giving me the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to help develop farmers. 

I worked with 25 study groups with an average of 50 farmers per group. In 2017 we added six villages in Limpopo to my list. The impact that the Farmer Development Programme has made on these farmers, is clear. In both Mpumalanga and Limpopo, most of the farmers have improved their yield from less than 1 t/ha to about 5 t/ha, with some farmers even realising a yield of more than 8 t/ha.

I wish all the farmers the best of luck. Continue working hard. Make sure that you follow the advice of the training staff and other stakeholders who are involved in developing your skills, knowledge and training. By doing this, your farming business will be profitable and sustainable.

Here are some important things to remember:

• Do planning before you do anything on the farm.
• Get a market before you plant any product.
• Choose the right planting dates and the right cultivar.
• Do a feasibility study. Do soil profiling to check the soil depth, texture and structure. 
• Take soil samples to check the soil-pH and to know which fertilisers to apply. Do soil correction first before you plant.
• Use the correct herbicides for weed control. Control pests and diseases to get high-quality produce. 
• Keep your eye on your fields and check if everything is going well. Do not manage your farming business with a remote control. 
• Keep record of everything that you are doing.

Best wishes for this coming harvesting season and if you need assistance and there is no one around, I am just a phone call away. 

– Jerry Mthombothi, who has been part of the Farmer Development Programme in Mpumalanga for the past 20 years, retired at the end of April 2024.

Publication: May 2024

Section: Pula/Imvula