After following a career as a chemical engineer for over 20 years, Reggie Kambule from Villiers in the Free State decided to step into the world of farming. Taking the baton from his father not only placed additional responsibility on him but also allowed him to build trust and relations with key stakeholders in the industry in order to thrive.
Kambule’s father, Jacob, retired and as the oldest son of three siblings, he was called on to come and co-run the family business.
Nkambule Agricultural Projects farms with livestock and crops. The operation has two permanent workers and when they are busy, they call on five seasonal workers to assist.
“We are still crawling, however, with time and guidance we will get there. When I formally left the corporate sector as a chemical engineer to take over the farm from my father because of his age, I knew minimal things regarding farming however with guidance and mentorship, I am a better person today,” Kambule says.
Learning from the best
He had to adjust to farming on the 185 hectares of land and decided to seek help.
“I asked my father if we cannot join VKB Landbou so that we can learn how to use our land for the better. We were farming at a lower scale, and I wanted us to get the thoughts and ideas of leaders in the sector so that we could improve,” he explains.
With the blessing of his father, they joined the organisation. Kambule says it was the best decision ever.
“By joining VKB Landbou, we were exposed to critical technicalities of agriculture like soil testing, how to care for the land, crop rotation, and the right medicine to use for our livestock.
“I saw this as an opportunity to be open-minded and a time to gather as much knowledge and skills as possible. Development can only come from learning from the best,” he says.
With the help of a friend
Kambule applauds VKB Landbou fellow member Koos Kruger, who has been his mentor from day one.
“He (Koos) is a friend to my father and when my father introduced me to him, the relations between us and him continued. I could not let go of over 40 years of experience without picking up guidance from him.
“He taught me what I needed to know, especially the technicalities of agriculture, which I am forever grateful for. It was through his teachings that I learned how to deal with climate change and all the nitty gritty of farming.”
Kambule says with the high rate of unemployment and lack of economic opportunities, people should use what they have acquired to better their lives.
“I know a lot of medical practitioners who went into farming and their qualifications were not lost because dealing with livestock needs medical knowledge, their years of studying were not wasted.
“My appeal is that people should use what they have, jobs are scarce. We need a mindset change to better our lives,” he adds.
“I think what motivates me is seeing what you have started coming into being. This shows that the hard work was not in vain, seeing the land coming to be more productive it is what gives me joy.”
‘We will get there’
Kambule says they still have challenges. They need agricultural machinery such as tractors and machinery to prepare the soil because, at the moment, they are outsourcing them.
“What matters is that we have the land, and we are making use of the land. There is still a long way to go, I am grateful for the foundation my father laid, now it is time to take the farm to the next level.
“Working in silos will not take us anywhere, we are not big yet, but with time, we will be in the same league as many of our members in VKB Landbou,” he vows.
Satisfying results
To him, there is nothing as satisfying as seeing the fruits of his hard work. “When you work the soil and you see from preparations, to planting and towards harvesting, you become more satisfied that indeed work was done properly.
“The efforts of your hands and thinking becoming a reality is a great moment for me and the workers as well, because we give our all to ensure good results do come out.”
He said even with livestock, witnessing the sheep or cow from birth until it gets auctioned, is a proud moment.
“Yes, there are setbacks. Sometimes you lose livestock because of diseases or sometimes you don’t get a good harvest because of drought or climate change, but it is part of the game and the risk, that as a farmer, you need to manage.”
But for now, he is content working the land. Relations between him and his father are good and he continues to learn from him.
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