Tawfeeq Brinkhuis spent his childhood in Schaapkraal, Philippi in the Western Cape, working on the farm that his family owned and operated. In this edition of Farmer’s Inside Track, he joins us to share insights into the day-to-day activities that take place on the farm as well as the expansion of their farming business over the course of the past few years.
Brinkhuis believes that careful planning is the most important aspect of farming. For example, he gets up very early and gets to work, so that by the time everyone else arrives to start working at 7:00, he has already been there for about two hours. It is important to set an example, particularly if you want to see growth in your company; you must devote time to it, he says.
“Work towards a common goal. For instance, if you need water; you need maybe R30k or R40k, to suck a bore in. Plan towards something that is [going to] improve your farming.”
He emphasises the significance of approaching issues with a rational frame of mind. He says that emotional decisions are inadequate in the business world.
Take care of your employees
He explains the importance of showing respect to those who work on farms. “You are acutely aware of the absence of a single worker the moment that person leaves the farm, and unfortunately, it is not simple to perform their duties in their absence.”
One piece of advice that he will never forget, is to make use of all of your senses. If something smells, you should be able to identify what it is, and the same goes for birds; you should be aware of their sizes, their overall health, and any noises that they may be making.
Catching up with a #SoilSista
This episode also features Sewagodimo Mthethwa, our weekly #SoilSista. Making her own food has always meant giving some away to the neighbours, and that tradition continues to this day.
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ALSO READ: How Tawfeeq Brinkhuis cracked the egg market
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