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THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႈ
In 2000, when all the producer organisations under the National Grain Producers’
Organisation (later Grain SA) were amalgamated, the Maize Man Award was replaced
by the Grain Producer of the Year Award. The format of this project by Grain SA,
aimed at recognising producers who manage their businesses to serve as an
example and inspiration to other producers, increased over the years.
Since 2002 a Developing Grain Producer of the Year Award was also made. The first
recipient was Mr Karabo Peele, a leader farmer from Ventersdorp, who proceeded to
serve the industry in more than one capacity, of which a considerable period was as
trustee and later as Chairperson of the Maize Trust.
In due course the small-scale and subsistence farmers informed the management of
Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme of their need for their own competition
as they could not compete directly with the bigger new-era producers. In reaction to
TABLE 2: AWARDS MADE BY GRAIN SA (1999 - 2015)
Main sponsors
Grain Producer
of the Year
Grain Scientist/Agriculturist
of the Year
Developing Grain Producer
of the Year
2000 Novartis
Pieter Gildenhuys
– Heidelberg, Southern Cape
Dr Klaus Pakendorf
– ARC-GCI
2001 Syngenta
De la Rey Tonkin
– Standerton, Mpumalanga
Dr Carel Johan Swanevelder
– ARC-GCI
2002 Syngenta
Land Bank
Deon Bothma
– Mareetsane, North West
Dr Cobus le Roux
– ARC-GCI
Karabo Peele
– Ventersdorp,
North West
2003 Syngenta
Land Bank
Manny and Johnny
da Costa
– Nigel, Gauteng
No award
Menyatso Matsididi
– Tweespruit, Free State
2004 Syngenta
Land Bank
Japie Grobler
– Bothaville, Free State
Prof Johann Kirsten
– University of Pretoria
Paul Morule
– Putfontein,
North West
2005 Syngenta
Land Bank
Kobus Dannhauser
– Parys, Free State
No award
Moss Malo
– Delareyville,
North West
2006 Syngenta
Land Bank
Willem de Waal
– Swartland, Western Cape
Dr Tom Drinkwater
– ARC-GCI
Lasarus Mothusi
– Weltevreden,
North West
2007 Syngenta
Absa
Kobus Wessels
– Caledon, Western Cape
No award
Lepati Macaphasa
– Phuthaditjhaba, Free State
2008 Syngenta
Land Bank
Schalk Stapelberg
– Piet Retief, Mpumalanga
Dr Mike Hardy
– Department
of Agriculture, Western Cape
Labious Manoto
– Lichtenburg,
North West
2009 Syngenta
Absa
Jaap van der Westhuizen
– Heilbron, Free State
Martiens du Plessis
– NWK
Sameul Moloi
– Fouriesburg,
Free State
2010 Syngenta
Absa
Pien Bester
– Morreesburg, Western Cape
Prof Koos van Rensburg
– ARC-GCI
William Matasane
– Senekal,
Free State
2011 Syngenta
Absa
Vlakplaas Boerdery
– Hoopstad, Free State
Prof André Agenbag
– Stellenbosch University
Koos Mthimkulu
– Senekal,
Free State
2012 Syngenta
Absa
Gilly Scheepers
– Fouriesburg, Free State
Prof Maryke Labuschagne
– University of the Free State
Israel Mothlabane
– Wesselsbron, Free State
2013 Syngenta
Absa
Rhys Evans-groep
– Viljoenskroon, Free State
Kobus van Zyl
– Omnia Fertiliser
Maurice Mthandeki Boki
– Matatiele, Eastern Cape
2014 Syngenta
Absa
Richard Hobson
– Setlagole, North West
No award
2015 Syngenta, Absa and
John Deere Financial
Genade Boerdery
– Douglas, Northern Cape
No award
Main sponsors
New Era Commercial
Farmer of the Year
Small-scale Farmer
of the Year
Subsistence Farmer of the Year
2014 Syngenta
Absa
Ralph Swart
– Elim,
Western Cape
Lungelwa Kama
– Maclear,
Eastern Cape
Enoch Khumalo
– Piet Retief,
Mpumalanga
2015 Syngenta, Absa and
John Deere Financial
Solomon Masangu
– Carolina, Mpumalanga
Ngubengcuka Christian Moyo
– Maclear, Eastern Cape
Daliwonga Nombewu
– Mthatha, Eastern Cape