Farmer development gets a
roundof applause
T
he 2nd of October this year was a day to celebrate. Farmers
who havemanaged to pursue their dreams against all odds
weregiven the recognition theydeserved.
Grain SA annually hosts the “Day of Celebration” to acknowledge
and showcase the progress made by developing farmers and
to celebrate transformation within grain production, farmer
development and recognise excellence in the field. The 2014 func-
tionwas held inBloemfontein.
While giving an overview of the Grain SA Farmer Development
Programme, Ms Jane McPherson (manager of the programme at
Grain SA) compared it to a taxi with 4 663 passengers (participants
in theprogramme) and 126pit stops (studygroups).
“In this journey that we are on, wemove from one place to another.
We arrive at one destination and thenwe have our eyes on the next
destination. In our programme we view our farmers as being on a
journey too. At the starting point of the journeywe see peoplewith
a need for knowledge, a need for structures, and a need for applied
knowledge. Today we celebrate those that are travelling well along
their road to their farming destination,” she said. McPherson also
emphasised that these farmers cannot dowithout financial support:
“Farmers needmechanisation, they need production financing and
they need input insurance.”
Mr Victor Mongoato (vice-chairman of Grain SA) stated that the
nation often forgets that food security is not guaranteed and that
it is a privilege tohave somethingon the table to eat.
Development co-ordinator at Grain SA, Mr Danie van den Berg,
said that all farmers can’t be judgedon the same level and that each
farmer should be given a fair chance. “The main objective of this
programme is to teach them to do things correctly and show them
how things turn out if they are not done correctly. The aim of the
programme is tohelp them fulfil their dreams,” he toldguests at the
Dayof Celebration.
Mr Bennie de Klerk (agent at Profert) encouraged farmers to make
useof specialistsand to formpartnershipswith them. “Agriculture is
averycompetitivebusiness andmistakeswill cost youdearly. There
aren’t any shortcuts.”
13
November 2014
GRAIN SA
ELMARIEHELBERG,
SAGraan/Grain
contributor
1: JanniedeVilliers (CEO:GrainSA) shares LungelwaKama’s (winner of theSmallholder of theYear category) joywhile she receives her awardon
stage.With them isMphiloDlamini.
2:WilliamMatasane (right)was theonly farmer tograduate to the 1 500Ton club. He calledhismentor, IsraelMotlhabane, to the stage to thankhim for
his support.
3: TheSubsistence Farmer of theYear 2014 is EnochKhumalo. VictorMongoato, JanniedeVilliers andErnst Janovsky are sharing in themoment.
4: TheNewEraCommercial Farmer of theYear-winner, RalphSwart (middle),withhiswife, Preline, and from the left: JanniedeVilliers,
VictorMongoato andErnst Janovsky.
1
2
4
3
