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September 2015
Grain SA/ABSA New Era Commercial Farmer
of the Year finalists
Solomon Masango
S
olomon Masango grew up on the farm Knersvlei in Carolina.
His father died when he was very young and he was brought
up by his mother, who was a domestic worker on the farm. He at-
tended Thokoza Combine School where he completed grade 7, then
KwaMhlang where he completed grade 12 in 1992.
He started working at Bennicon Mine in Witbank, completed his
studies as a mine worker (open cast). He worked there from 1994
to 1997, after which he was employed at African Explosive Ltd,
where he worked as a surface blaster until 2000.
When he completed his studies as a blasting engineer, he was pro-
moted to field service superintendent. In 2004 he resigned with
the aim to be self-employed. He then started a transport business.
In 2008 he decided to become a farmer. His interest in farming
started at a very young age on the farm that he grew up on. He be-
came an advanced farmer with Mr Naas Gouws in 2012 where his
involvement with Grain SA started. He joined the newly formed
Carolina study group in 2014.
Masango lives on the farm, Brakspruit, belonging to Ubuhle
Uyazenzela CPA. With the help of the government, the community
received 274 cattle. Solomon looks after the herd on behalf of the
community, making hay and supplying crop residue in winter. His
farm workers have between 4 ha and 7 ha of arable land, which are
planted on their behalf, free of charge.
This farmer is always trying to grow bigger, always looking for
more land to rent and growing his personal cattle herd. He planted
150 ha of maize with an average of 6 tons/ha and 200 ha of soy-
beans with an average of 1,5 tons/ha. His yields increased from
3,5 tons/ha to 6 tons/ha in the past year.
Solomon is hard working with a passion for new ideas and gaining
knowledge.
1: Solomon Masango.
2: Solomon’s maize. He planted 150 ha of maize with an average of 6 tons/ha. His yields increased from 3,5 tons/ha to 6 tons/ha in the past year.
3: Solomon in his soybeans. He planted 200 ha of soybeans with an average of 1,5 tons/ha.
4 and 5: Some of his tractors and equipment.
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