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19
September 2015
Lawrence Mtsweni
L
awrence Mtsweni grew up in Springs where his father worked
as a driver. He completed grade 12 (Technical Matric) in Kwa-
Zulu-Natal in 1974.
He became involved in the building industry after doing a trade test
in 1977 as a brick layer, which kept him occupied up until 1995. He
then started his own construction company in 1996 until 2005, after
which he acquired a farm through Land Reform. He now lives on the
farm Uitkyk in the Nigel district.
Lawrence became interested in farming when his father bought a
2 ha plot outside Springs in 1989.
He joined a Grain SA study group in 2008 where he now acts as
the chairperson of the Masethuthukenii Study Group. He attend-
ed various training courses and is currently studying through the
University of Pretoria – a three year course in Agricultural Enterprise
Management.
Mtsweni wants to become a commercial producer and get involved
in agro-processing, producing animal feeds and creating a market
for his own produce. He also wants to package meat products and
dry beans.
His commitment to farming and his excited approach is contagious
for other farmers in the area. His family members are just as excited
about agriculture, with his two daughters now on the farm initiating
the packaging enterprise and attending to the animal enterprise of
the farm.
He planted 35 ha of maize and expects an average yield of 6 tons/ha.
1: Lawrence Mtsweni.
2: He planted 35 ha of maize and expects an average yield of 6 tons/ha.
3: Lawrence with one of the judges, Johan van der Merwe.
4 and 5: Lawrence wants to become a commercial producer and get involved in agro-processing, producing animal feeds and creating a market for his
own produce.
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5