The sweat and hard labour of farmers to bring food to households in South Africa were acknowledged at the 2024 Agricultural Writers SA awards ceremony on Friday evening in Pretoria. Industry leaders, members of the media, and producers gathered to celebrate the successes of the farming community.
The winner in the category of Farmer of the Year, André Brink, said it took him and his family 30 years to reach where they are, and the award was not only for him but also for his workforce.
“I am thankful to Agricultural Writers SA for the award. Success in agriculture is measured in time, and that is exactly what has happened to me. Over the last 30 years, I have been running a business in agriculture, and to receive this award is the cherry on top.”
He added, “In agriculture, if you buy a bull today, you won’t see the results tomorrow; it takes time. Similarly, if you plant today, it takes time to yield.”
Shaping the future
Lindi Botha, national chairperson of Agricultural Writers SA, said that the annual awards highlighted the importance of agriculture to the country’s economy and society.
“Recognising trailblazers – those who embody the spirit of innovation, community, and environmental stewardship – plays an important role in setting the tone for the future. It is clear that South Africa has been blessed with leaders across multiple fields who will lead the country into another decade of world-class agricultural production,” she said.
Hendrik van Staden, business head at Syngenta Seed South Africa, said the farmers who were nominated and those who won were selected because of their passion for the community and agriculture.
“We, as an industry, recognise the contributions of agriculturists in our country who fight to make agriculture viable. The industry must be sustainable and produce food that can feed our nation, not only now but in the future as well,” he said.
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Big night for Thulani
Thulani Magida, owner of Juta Agritech in the Eastern Cape, was named the 2024 New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture. He was nominated by Food For Mzansi journalist Patricia Tembo.
“This award means a lot to me in terms of motivation. There is no financial incentive; can you imagine the amount of motivation it gives me? I have worked for almost two years to get the business to a cashflow situation, and no one is coming close to me as far as finances are concerned.
“Even though the benefit of this is not financial, the gains are far more important than the financial gains I would have gotten. I am meeting with government officials, and these are some of the spin-offs that this award is bringing to me,” he said.
Magida said that, while he has not yet secured financing from both banks and the government, he is not throwing in the towel.
“On the night of the awards, I had the opportunity to meet people from Potatoes SA who could help me with applications in that regard. I also met people from the RSA Group, which now presents an opportunity to produce for the fresh produce market, something I initially struggled to penetrate on my own in King William’s Town. This is just the initial stage of what the award could bring,” he concluded.
Celebrating excellence
Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture, said that awarding those in agriculture was an honour, as this industry is the backbone of the economy.
“To all the winners in the various categories, thank you for your dedication, innovation, perseverance, and hard work, which have not only contributed to food security and economic growth, but also set a benchmark for excellence in agriculture,” he said.
Andries Wiese, national business development manager at Hollard, noted that the awards rightly recognised excellence.
“These men and women toil not for the recognition, but for the immense pleasure they derive from farming and the sense of accomplishment when another crop or product is successfully delivered to the market.”
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