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Eager-to-learn Paul on the way to
commercial farming
T
he Grain SA/Monsanto Potential Commercial Farmer of the
Year category is a new category in this year’s competition,
where farmers who have access to more than 100 ha of ar-
able land, but despite currently not being able to use all the
available land, are in a position to become 250 Ton New Era Com-
mercial farmers.
Mr Paul Malindi (48) from the farm Dankbaar, near Edenville in the
Free State, was the first farmer to take this brand-new category's
winning title home.
Malindi planted 180 ha of maize and 140 ha sunflower this season
on his 440 ha farm that he obtained through the Proactive Land
Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) programme. He grew up on a farm in
Heilbron, but moving into the modern-day farming world, opened
his eyes to the world of farming.
Through Grain SA’s training courses he learned more about ad-
vanced maize production and marketing, preparing him for the road
to becoming a commercial farmer. ‘Grain SA has trained us to keep
up with new methods and technology; to do away with the old ways
in order to move forward and succeed,’
Malindi said during a DVD presentation
that was screened during the awards
ceremony.
Using the knowledge he ob-
tained from training courses,
his study group (that he was
founding member of) and farm-
ers days, he applies a hands-
on approach on his farm. This
practical leader also farms with
livestock (cattle, meat merinos
and goats). To make sure the in-
creasing livestock have enough
grazing, he now leases additional
land for pasture.
‘I want to plant more crops, such
as soybeans and also increase
my livestock, so that my farming
business can grow,’ he said.
17
November 2017
GRAIN SA
Awards Ceremony
Making the choice to bring change
N
elson Mandela said, ‘A winner is
a dreamer who never gives up.
’
After losing her mother, Ms Mavis
Hlatshwayo (55), from Mpuluzi,
Mpumalanga, was raised by her grandpar-
ents, who were farmers. This is where her
dream to become a farmer was ignited.
With Grain SA’s guidance, this mother and
her team have introduced new farming
methods and are now harvesting around
8 t/ha. In an interview, the 2017 Grain SA/
Absa/John Deere Financial Subsistence
Farmer of the Year, said, ‘Grain SA has
helped a lot as they have taught me how to
farm.’ Grain SA may have been the teacher,
but Hlatshwayo was a willing student who
is now reaping the rewards of the positive
choice she made.
Currently the Hlatshwayos are planting
2 ha of maize, but she is planning to expand
her venture and bring in dry beans as a
rotation crop. She also dreams of owning
more land and creating job opportunities
for the unemployed in the community.
‘I perceive these hectares I have planted
as a very small portion of what I really
want to do, as I wish to increase the
number of hectares I am currently
farming on.’
While working hard in her
own farming enterprise, this
remarkable woman still finds
time to fulfil her duties as an
upstanding representative of
the community. She is a dedi-
cated member of the Sizanani
Society, an organisation for
female members only. They
support each other and
give donations to community
members who are living below
the bread line. During a media
visit she told them that since the
Grain SA programme has started
in their village, no-one in their vil-
lage has gone to bed hungry.
LOUISE KUNZ,
SA Graan/Grain
contributor
Subsistence Farmer of the Year category (0 ha - 10 ha)
Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year (100 ha, but producing less than 250 tons)
Mavis Hlatshwayo and her son, Zansi, who
farms with his mother.
Photo: Helenus Kruger
Paul Malindi and his wife, Joyce.
Joyce makes sure the books and
records of the business are up to
date.
Photo: Helenus Kruger
RUTH SCHULTZ,
SA Graan/Grain
contributor
TM