140 / 146
124
GRAANGIDS
2017
GRAIN GUIDE
A prosperous and united agricultural sector
is what we dream of
The Farmer Development Programme’s goal is to ensure sustainable production on every hectare
of arable land in South Africa – irrespective of the size of the land. To this end training and on-farm
support is given to developing farmers.
The programme, which was introduced in 2000, establishes a platform for healthy and sustain-
able transformation on a broad base. Through funding by the Maize Trust, the Oil and Protein
Seeds Development Trust, the Winter Cereal Trust, the Sorghum Trust, the ARC and the AgriSETA,
the programme has made a huge difference to the economic viability of developing farmers. From
the 2016/2017 year, the funding of the Maize Trust has been reduced drastically and we have
been fortunate to be assisted by Monsanto, Afgri, Pioneer, Sasol Base Chemicals, Senwes and
Pannar so as to be able to keep all the offices open. The programme is proud to have 9 588 black
farmers in its 164 study groups and eleven branches (Lichtenburg, Taung, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein,
Ladybrand, Louwsburg, Dundee, Kokstad, Maclear, Mthatha and Paarl).There are 123 new era
commercial farmers (producing more than 250 tons of grain), 684 smallholder farmers (from
10 ha to 100 ha of arable land), 276 potential commercial farmers (on >100 ha of arable land)
as well as 8 545 subsistence farmers (on less than 10 ha of land).
In our efforts to develop knowledge of the farmers at all levels, we continue to support the farmers
through study group meetings, demonstration trials and farmers days, the Farmer of the Year
competition, the advanced farmer programme, training courses, and a monthly newsletter (
Pula
Imvula
). It is our belief that investment in the people is what is going to bring sustainability to the
process of agricultural transformation.
A prosperous and united agricultural sector is within our reach. Sustainable production on each
hectare is quite possible if we address the real barriers that we are facing. Land tenure and soil
rectification, extension support, tractors and mechanisation, production loans, knowledge and
mentoring – we have the solutions to the problems and if we could unite the sector, we could
build the agricultural dream so many of us are dreaming!
Enquiries about the programme can be directed to the co-ordinator in your area:
Johan Kriel
Free State (Ladybrand)
079 497 4294
Jerry Mthombothi
Mpumalanga (Nelspruit)
084 604 0549
Jurie Mentz
KwaZulu-Natal/Mpumalanga (Louwsburg) 082 354 5749
Graeme Engelbrecht
KwaZulu-Natal (Dundee)
082 650 9315
Ian Househam
Eastern Cape (Kokstad)
078 791 1004
Sinelizwi Fakade
Eastern Cape (Mthatha)
071 519 4192
Liana Stroebel
Western Cape (Paarl)
084 264 1422
Du Toit van der Westhuizen
North West (Lichtenburg)
082 877 6749
Julius Motsoeneng
North West (Taung)
076 182 7889
Willie Kotzé
Operations manager: Grain SA Farmer 082 535 5250
Development Programme
Children encouraged to make agriculture their career choice
We are privileged to receive funding from the Maize Trust, the Winter Cereal Trust and the AgriSETA
to implement a schools programme. In our modern society, children are no longer aware of agri-
culture’s value as a source of food, fibre and energy as well as for career choices. Our message to
them is: ‘Without agriculture, you would be naked, hungry and thirsty.’
Enquiries about the programme can be directed to Dr Willie Kotzé (operations manager: Grain SA
Farmer Development Programme) on 082 535 5250.