For the first time in history, the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union has named a woman farmer its top young food producer of the year.
North Coast macadamia and banana farmer Tammy Williams received top honours in the Toyota Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year competition after having impressed the judges with her journey from the bottom up to where she has mastered not only the technical side of farming but also environmentally conscious practices and community involvement.
She will now represent KwaZulu-Natal in the Toyota SA/Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year Competition later this year.
“Every year we are astounded at the extremely high standard of our young farmers,” said Kwanalu CEO Sandy La Marque in a statement. “This is a testament to the passion, determination, and excellence of agriculture in our province. Their resilience, commitment, and optimism in both the industry and our country is truly inspiring.”
Kwanalu’s annual congress, where the competition winner was announced, was themed “adapt to change” this year. It centred around facing and overcoming a myriad of challenges and Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo, attorney Rob McCarthy, and inspirational speaker Martin Brown counted amongst the speakers.
Standing her ground
During the competition, which is aimed at food producers younger than 40, farmers were evaluated on their overall agricultural practices, including their vision for the future of their business. Entrants are judged on their management and business philosophies, as well as the technical competence with which their philosophy is applied.
In a press statement issued after the competition, Kwanalu said that Williams started working as a receptionist at a farming business about 12 years ago with no previous farming experience. She developed a keen interest to learn about production and was soon promoted to manage a section of the banana production.
Williams gradually took over the production and management of several banana farms, totalling 120 hectares and, in 2013, she expanded into macadamia production. Since then, the business has grown its macadamia division to 150 hectares.
“Having been involved in both the technical and administration aspects of the farming, I have learned that the two go hand in hand in keeping a farming operation efficient and, as a result, a lot of money can be saved when these elements are not viewed as separate,” says Williams.
A vision for the future
She now strives to finetune the operations for increased profitability.
“I believe that the quality of the macadamia nuts produced on our farm will be what sets us apart in future and we have been getting closer to understanding how to do this by trying out new techniques, while also calibrating the ideal conditions for a superior end product,” she says.
She is passionate about conservation and is always looking for new ways to minimise the use of insecticides and herbicides.
“I am an avid bee lover and have introduced bee basil and other vegetation to attract good insects for the farm. I also make sure we conserve the natural bush and waterways to take care of the sensitive ecosystems on the farm.”
Williams believes that anyone with a willingness to work hard and to learn can achieve their heart’s desire.
“I am not from a farming background, but through opportunity and perseverance, I have found a passion for agriculture. We provide opportunities for our staff to extend themselves into new areas, just as I have been afforded. Watching their growth and passion for farming develop and enabling them to provide for their families is extremely gratifying.”
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