ers, these skills are critical in overcoming the challenges of establishing a successful agricultural business. Over and above the long hours of hard work, their progress is often hampered by high input costs, difficulties accessing finance and markets, and having to establish a business on rented land without optimal infrastructure.
Tolo Siphiwokuhle Bakeni, 34, from Robertson, the top achiever in the latest group of graduates commented on the value of agricultural education.“ I’ ve been farming since I was a kid with my grandmother— we had a lot of livestock. I thought I knew everything about farming, but the training at KAL Academy opened my eyes. I learned how to run a farm more sustainably, how to balance crops with livestock, and even how to make my own feed instead of buying expensive stock.”
This year’ s graduation was even more special, thanks to an inspiring message from Charmelle Adams, a proud KAL Academy graduate and livestock farmer from the Vredendal district of the
KAL ACADEMY
Western Cape. Sharing her personal journey, she encouraged the graduates to stay committed to their dreams despite challenges along the way.
KAL Academy training is a combination of remote learning, supplemental classroom sessions and practical sessions on surrounding commercial farms showing how theory is implemented in practice. Farmers also gain an instant network of peers and moral support.
Tolo confirmed that the support from his peers at the Academy was invaluable for him as a livestock farmer. For the past six years, he has been farming cattle and pigs on a 1.2-hectare plot of vacant land that he is renting.
“ Meeting other young farmers helped a lot. I got encouragement and hope. I realised that I’ m not the only one with the problems I have; we shared ideas on how to solve some problems.”
Refilwe Mothudi, 31, who started farming organic vegetables in Kimberley three years ago, also found significant benefit from sharing