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February 2025
JERRY MTHOMBOTHI, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT PGP’S MBOMBELA OFFICE IN MPUMALANGA, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR 21 YEARS. IN THIS TIME, HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE MORE THAN 50 STUDY GROUPS THAT HE HAS SERVICED – AND HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 2 000 SUBSISTENCE AND EMERGING FARMERS.
His passion and commitment to helping farmers led to his decision in May 2024 to postpone his retirement and continue working with beginner and developing farmers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. What motivates Jerry to keep on going, is that this job is so rewarding. ‘I love my job. It makes me feel good and happy when I see farmers being well trained and improving, so that they can farm profitably and sustainably and can become self-reliant.’
During the 21 years of guiding and mentoring farmers, Jerry has learned valuable life lessons. One of these is that you need a lot of patience when you work with people, and you need to respect people, no matter who they are. Without passion for the job, mentoring can easily become an effort. He also discovered that he has a big heart, and that perseverance and compassion are two of his strongest characteristics.
Last year turned out to be a year full of highlights for Jerry. Two of the winners of the Farmer of the Year competition hailed from his area. He was ‘over the moon’ when his mentee, Jim Besabakhe Masemola, who farms in Sehlakwane Village near Groblersdal in Mpumalanga, was announced as the 2024 Grain SA/Land Bank Smallholder Farmer of the Year. Jerry has been closely involved in Jim’s farming operation since 2018 and says this hardworking farmer really deserves the award.
Two of the people who have played major roles in Jerry’s life, are his grandfather and his pastor. His grandfather, who farmed with livestock and crops, ignited his passion for agriculture while he was still a young boy. From his pastor he has learned the value of staying calm and the importance of love and respect for others.
His advice to other mentors is the following: ‘Let us do the work that God had sent us to do. This job that we are doing is a calling from God – it’s not just an ordinary job that can be done by anybody. Always be willing to make a change in thew lives of the people that you are servicing – there should be a difference because of your assistance.’
Jerry believes that it is important to have more friends than enemies. After he retires, he dreams of opening an office where he can advise people on how to improve their agricultural practices to generate profits and to minimise hunger and starvation in the country.
THE MENTOR AND MENTEE WHY DID YOU NOMINATE JIM?
Since 2021 it was clear that he has the potential to become a successful farmer. His yield improved drastically over the past three years. Jim is a respected leader in his community, who motivates other farmers to follow the correct production practices. He is also innovative, as he modified a Mazda 6 engine to use it for the milling of his maize.
HOW HAS HE IMPROVED AS A FARMER?
He follows the advice we give. The agricultural practices that have helped him improve his farming operation are the use of certified seeds such as BT maize and Roundup ready seeds, planting in the planting window and doing soil correction – ripping, liming and preparing a good seedbed. I really hope that he will one day have his own farm.
WHAT IMPRESSES YOU MOST ABOUT HIM?
Jim is always willing to help other people. He wants the farmers in his region to develop and reach the stage where he is. He uses his own farm implements, such as his boom sprayer, planter and harvester, to help neighbouring farmers and other members of the community.
Name: Jerry Mthombothi
Region: Mpumalanga/Limpopo (Mbombela office)
Position: Regional development manager
Mentors: Grandfather and pastor
Jerry with Jim Besabakhe Masemola.
THREE CHARACTERISTICS A MENTOR NEEDS:
Publication: February 2025
Section: Pula/Imvula
Author: BY LOUISE KUNZ, ASSISTANT EDITOR
