IN STANDERTON FARMER D IS MAKING HIS PASSION A REALITY

This is the first year in the Lemang Agricultural Services training and development programme for Farmer D, who is very passionate about farming, and is a highly motivated individual. Farmer D spent most of his time on his farm during planting season, and his crop is beyond all expectations despite the relatively short period. He planted soya beans this season because of the drought, as he didn’t want to take too much risk, planting 75 ha and another 225 ha, which he owns in partnership with a neighbour. The crop estimate is currently around 1.5 tons per ha.

IN MPUMALANGA, FARMER C NOW HAS A 617 HA FARM AND RECENTLY WON FARMER OF THE YEAR WITH GRAIN SA

Humble beginnings meant that Farmer C originally farmed on 50 ha but three years ago this started to change when he joined the Lemang Agricultural Services training and development programme. Here he garnered much-needed training in the form of in-class training, on-farm technical training with agronomists, personal development, as well as basic computer training. Monitoring and mentorship took the form of regular visits to the farm, assistance in managing accounts to ensure payments to input suppliers were made, as well as assistance with pre-season budgeting and spending.

From the humble 50 ha, Farmer C has developed into farming on just over 400 ha, made up of 140 ha of maize, 260 ha of soya beans and 20 ha of sugar beans. Yields have increased so that he is now able to produce between 6 to 9 tons per ha of maize and 1,5 to 3 tons per ha of soya beans. Farmer C’s farm is also run with equipment he was able to finance from the profits. The training, mentorship and development programme has helped Farmer C learn the latest advanced techniques. By winning “Farmer of the Year”, he walked away with a brand-new tractor from John Deere, which will make his operation even more efficient.

IN THE NKANGALA DISTRICT OF MPUMALANGA YIELDS ARE IMPROVING

In this case, Farmer B began farming in 2011, cultivating 150 ha of maize. In 2012 he joined the training and development programme, and through a combination of training, monitoring and mentorship the business has grown to 640 ha – comprising 300 ha of white maize, 300 ha of soya beans and 40 ha of sugar beans.

Initial yields were 500kg per ha, but today yields are up at between 4 to 7 tons per ha of maize and soya and 1 to 2 tons per ha of sugar beans. The farmer improved his mechanisation by purchasing a six-row planter and a harvester head for soya and maize, bought through access to the AFGRI hire purchase funding model.

IN METSWEDING, GAUTENG, FARMER A IS FLOURISHING

In the 2013/2014 season Lemang Agricultural Services met this farmer in Metsweding for the first time. Only 68 ha had been planted using a planter that was incorrectly calibrated, thus creating large, inefficient gaps amongst the maize plants. This led to an infestation of weeds. The AFGRI training and development programme that Farmer A signed up for included farmer study groups, in-class training, basic computer training, and on-farm assistance by agronomists.

This, combined with mentorship, also ensured that the farmer’s confidence in his skills and abilities was engrained. Finance provided by AFGRI ensured that he could purchase an additional 22 ha of land, bringing the total to 100 ha. Weed management was also under control, with an excellent crop on the land. Full repayment of the production loan has been made, and the next step is to plant 120 ha. This is made possible through the confidence to lease additional land, as well as having a true partner where farming matters can be discussed, and the best course of action implemented.