Grain SA interviews… Lebogang Khitleli

June 2016

This month Lebogang Khitleli, from the Matatiele District in the Eastern Cape was interviewed by Ian Househam. This fast learner believes hard work and training is what is needed to achieve goals and be a success – one of Lebogang's goals is to own a big farm in the near future.

Where and on how many hectares are you farming? What do you farm with?

I farm on Eriths in the Matatiele District of the Eastern Cape. The total area of my farm is 400 hectares of which 250 hectares is for grazing and the rest is arable land.

What motivates/inspires you?

Working with Grain SA inspires me.

Describe your strengths

I am a fast learner and put effort into whatever I do.

What was your crop yield when you started farming? What are your respective yields now?

When I started farming my yield was about 3 t/ha which was very low but since I started working with Grain SA I improved my yield and at the moment I yield about 4 t/ha to 6,5 t/ha.

What do you think was the main contributor to your progress and success?

Hard work and training contributed to my progress and success.

What training have you received to date and what training would you still like to do?

I have completed the following courses: Workshop Skills, Introduction to Soybean Production, Farming for Profits and Mechanisation Management.

Where do you see yourself in five years time? What would you like to achieve?

I would like to own a big farm of more than 1 000 hectares in the next five years.

What advice do you have for young aspiring farmers?

My advice to young farmers will be to work hard so that you could get rewards and achieve your goals.

Article submitted by Ian Househam, Development Co-ordinator of the
Grain SA Farmer Development Programme, Kokstad.
For more information, send an email to ian@grainsa.co.za.

 

Publication: June 2016

Section: Pula/Imvula