National Farmer of the
Year 2018: Pieter Graaff
Brian Berknam
A
t a gala event held in Stellenbosch on
Friday evening, November 16, 2018
the Agricultural Writers SA announced
the winners of the 2018 National
Farmer, New Entrant into Commercial
Agriculture and Agriculturist of the Year.
The main sponsors of the event were Bayer,
Santam Agriculture, Sanlam and Rovic Leers.
The three national winners are:
The 2018 National Farmer of the Year is Pieter
Graaff, a farmer from Ceres in the Western
Cape.
The 2018 New Entrant into Commercial
Agriculture is Leonard Mavhugu, a farmer
from the former Ciskei region of the Eastern
Cape.
The 2018 Agriculturist of the Year is Wandile
Sihlobo, an agricultural economist from
Gauteng.
Annually, the Agricultural Writers SA
acknowledge outstanding achievements
of commercial farmers, new entrants into
commercial agriculture, and agriculturists.
One of the aims of these awards is to give
prominence to the role that farmers and
agriculturists play in the agricultural sector
in South Africa. It is also important to note
that the award recipients also impact on the
broader economy of the country and the
southern African region.
This year’s candidates were:
Agriculturist of the Year
• Gauteng – Wandile Sihlobo
• Limpopo – Frits van Oudtshoorn
• Mpumalanga – Johann du Preez
• Western Cape – Prof. Eugene Cloete
New Entrant into Commercial Agriculture
• Eastern Cape – Leonard Mavhugu
• Gauteng – Mbali Nkabinde
• Western Cape – Wayne Mansfield
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
Farmer of the Year
• KwaZulu-Natal – Joseph Baynes Estate (Pty)
Ltd (Myles van Deventer)
• Limpopo – Mahela Boerdery (Edward Vorster
& seuns)
• North West – Johan Styger
• Western Cape – Pieter Graaff
“Every day we are met with the challenge
of feeding a growing world population.
With these awards, Agricultural Writers SA
acknowledges the role that farmers and
agriculturists play in the agricultural sector
and in addressing food security. I am sure,
that although we will not hear the words,
future generations will thank you for your
contributions and efforts to create an enabling
environment that facilitated growth, success
and food security in our lovely country,” said
Magda du Toit, chairperson of the Agricultural
Writers SA.
“The ultimate measure of a person is not
what they do in moments of comfort and
convenience, but rather what they do during
times of challenge and crisis. That shows
resilience and that is the match that ignites
hope, excellence, innovation and forward
thinking. And that is what all our regional
winners managed to do.”
The 2018 Farmer of the Year in the Western
Cape and National Farmer of the Year Pieter
Graaff took over the farming business,
Witzenberg Properties, just outside Ceres
from his father Dr Jan Graaff, in 1984.
Under his leadership five farming units
were added to the original farm resulting in
better productivity and an increase in the
total turnover and profit. Pieter Graaff also
expanded his farming business vertically into
the complete value chain.
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