Everyone with a little bit of space and the hunger to succeed can become a niche farmer. This is the unwavering belief of Laeveld Agrochem, the leading crop optimisation and precision farming enterprise behind Niche Farmers, a brand-new television series.
Beginning in August on e.tv, the show will be hosted by media personalities Wilson B. Nkosi and Rozanne McKenzie. It is described as a “first of its kind”. It also promises same-week repeats on eXtra and Honey on DStv.
Guests at the glitzy Niche Farmers launch event held last week included farmers who received a special mention by MC and well-known actor, Anton Schmidt. “When we eat, let’s never forget that we have a farmer to thank for that,” he said.
Nkosi shared that he has always had the desire to do something deeper; something that truly speaks to the human condition. “Niche Farmers has finally made it possible for me to do just that,” he said.
According to McKenzie, the English-language show will debunk many of the conventional views about agriculture and create a new narrative of what it really means to be a “farmer”. As such, the show will feature lesser-known farming enterprises which produce the likes of mushrooms, honey, saffron, berries and truffles.
Successful black commercial farmers who produce more common staple foods will also be profiled, telling the stories of their daily struggles, and the key partners who are instrumental in their success.
“We anticipate that the series will create enormous viewer interest, as it is both insightful and practical, unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said e.tv spokesperson, Bennum van Jaarsveld.
Equipping black farmers
As a natural extension of Nisboere, the Safta-awarded Afrikaans television show, Niche Farmers aims to equip both budding and successful black farmers with useful information.
“So, apart from seeing what can be done, viewers will be able to find out how to do it through a series of useful ‘wrap’ articles that will be shared free of charge with viewers,” remarked Corné Liebenberg, marketing director of Laeveld Agrochem.
It is in this spirit of enabling up-and-coming black farmers with the necessary information to succeed, that each of the sub-sponsors for the series have been selected. For Aron Kohle, managing director of FarmSol, it is a simple agreement: “As ‘farmers of farmers’ we look forward to making a contribution to what promises to be a life-changing series for all farmers at heart.”
Guests at the launch event were also treated to a live performance of the show’s theme song, “Together we rise”, written by William B. Nkosi and performed by the internationally acclaimed Mzansi Youth Choir. Nkosi said that the essence of the song is about helping each other to bring hope in an often-hopeless world, which is exactly what Niche Farmers is all about.
The first ever episode of Niche Farmers goes to air early in August. The show will reach viewers in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, DRC and Cameroon.
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