Helping farmers become better farmers

September 2024

IN SOUTH AFRICA A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRAIN IS BEING PRODUCED BY DEVELOPING FARMERS. THE PHAHAMA GRAIN PHAKAMA (PGP) FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (FDP) IS TAILOR MADE FOR FARMERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS WHO WANT TO KEEP ON PRODUCING GRAIN PROFITABLY AND SUSTAINABLY, ACHIEVING OPTIMAL YIELDS.

The programme offers a clear roadmap to all farmers – subsistence, smallholder, potential commercial and new era commercial farmers. Up to date and modern information is shared during farm visits, study group sessions, farmer’s days and training opportunities.

The FDP team understands that development is a process and not an event and track the development of each farmer who joins the programme. The team has a good understanding of the industry and its challenges. They train, teach and expose farmers in all grain producing areas of South Africa to modern farming methods and facilitate access to appropriate mechanisation, inputs and or production financing. Through being in the field and working at grassroots every day, this team brings experience, knowledge, expertise and a commitment to equipping farmers towards better agricultural practices as well as building a relevant network of support. 

Harvesting results are in

The Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) offices are busy planning for the next season. While the team is identifying new and current farmers for the next season’s projects, farm visits still had to be done. A total of 73 farm visits took place between 12 June and 8 July in the following regions: Dundee, the Eastern and Western Free State, Kokstad, Louwsburg and Mbombela.

Mentor Johan Roux visited Matshinini Madinda Jabulani. The sunflower crop was harvested and Matshinini realised an average yield of 1 t/ha. Planning for the new season was also discussed.

Oujan Masiu harvested 71 t of sunflower and about 50 t of maize on his farm in the Eastern Free State.

When Eric Wiggill (regional development manager from the Kokstad office) visited Nomlala Siyabonga, harvesting began when the tapkar and two trucks from Kokstad Milling arrived. Nomlala realised an average of 5,5 t/ha on 35 ha.

Mentor Timon Filter from the Louwsburg region visited Sipho Vilikazi, who is the chairperson of his study group. Sipho credits Grain SA for his farming knowledge and is very thankful for what Grain SA is doing for the country’s farmers.

Good news for study groups

During June and July, the PGP team visited 58 study groups to inform them about the next round for the Beyond Abundance (BA) Project. There was some good news for the farmers – this season they will pay less for their inputs than last season.

The Manthole Study Group with their Pula magazines!

At the Dundonald Study Group, farmers were encouraged to participate in the BA Project. They were informed about the content of the input packages they would receive and the cut-off date for payments.

Graeme Engelbrecht, regional development manager, gives a demonstration of a maize thresher at the Isandlwana Study Group.

Publication: September 2024

Section: Pula/Imvula