PRODUCER FOCUS
Senwes ’ Julias Ramohlabi offers developing farmers support and sound advice .
29 | From top cop , to growing crops
stock ( a total of fifteen cows ) were stolen from him , forcing him to start over . He faced a continuous battle trying to find land where he could begin to farm , until he heard through his involvement with National African Farmers Union ( NAFU ), about programmes within government awarding farms to small scale farmers . Despite the challenges he faced , Mokhatlha believes that farming has always been in his blood and growing up on a farm allowed him a front row seat to the mechanisms of the agricultural industry and thus prepared him well for the day he finally found the courage to get out of his comfort zone and boldly pursue his passion in the farming industry . He was faced with numerous challenges , but in 2013 his perseverance finally paid off as he obtained a farm in Vereeniging , where he currently farms .
CROP FARMING Mokhatlha admits that he has always had his heart set on cattle farming , but things changed for him when he encountered other farmers who cautioned him about the challenges within the farming sector and thus advised him to diversify his farming in order to create a more sustainable livelihood . He then embarked on a mission to equip himself with as much knowledge as possible by enrolling in several GrainSA courses . It was then that he decided to begin maize farming to augment his stock breeding .
FAMILY
Mokhatlha is a married father of two girls . The eldest , who he hopes will succeed him in taking over the farming business , is currently preparing for that by studying Veterinary Technology at Tshwane University of Technology . He says that he takes his daughters to NAMPO often to introduce them to and get them excited about the world of farming so they can eventually carry out his succession plan .
WAY FORWARD Mokhatlha , who has collected a number of accolades along the way since he started farming , hopes to grow in his business and eventually become a well-established commercial farmer . “ I would like to see myself contributing to the country ’ s GDP and food security . I also want to be financially empo wered so that I can empower others through job creation .”
Isaac Mokhatlha is very grateful for what Senwes has done to help him plant 175 hectares of maize this season .
Contact Julias Ramohlabi on 018 464 7156 or mail Julias . Ramohlabi @ senwes . co . za if you are a develo ping farmer looking to benefit from the services offered by Senwes .
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SENWES SCENARIO | AUTUMN 2018