A deep desire to farm, being accountable and lifelong lessons are exactly how Minky Kgopa and Clifford Mthimkulu learnt to thrive within Mzansi’s agricultural sector.
Growing up on farms and seeing the beauty of crops and the food they produce, triggered Kgopa’s interest in farming, she says in this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
Her father, an avid farmer himself, played a key role in Kgopa becoming a farmer. The sunflower and maize farmer from North West shares how her father was taken by surprise when she showed an interest in agriculture.
“One day we had a conversation, and I said to him, ‘how would you feel if I said, give me a piece of land and let me try this thing?’ He was excited; he couldn’t believe it.
“I have siblings… He couldn’t believe that from his children, the girl-child wanted to be a farmer, and that’s how it started.”
Hands-on approach
Meanwhile, Mthimkhulu’s journey began with his father, who spent 41 years working on a farm. His father worked his way up to the position of agricultural contractor. After years of hard work, they eventually purchased a farm and the father-and-son duo from the Free State began farming in 2006.
“I prefer doing things myself and being part of the daily operations. I find it interesting.
“Passion also plays a vital role, and I still need to do everything with the [workers], delegate where I can delegate, and run to the office,” he says.
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