Leading agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo was named Agriculturist of the Year by Agricultural Writers SA moments ago. Sihlobo heads up agribusiness research at Agbiz, and is also a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s advisory panel on land reform.
He accepted the award during the prize-giving ceremony at Anura Vineyards in Klapmuts, outside of Cape Town on Friday evening, describing it as “a great honour”.
Sihlobo is a member of the South African Agricultural Economics Association. He has previously served as an economist at Grain South Africa. He holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Stellenbosch University.
The Seven Stars’ Senior Farm Manager Leonard Mavhungu won the prestigious New Entrant to Commercial Farming category. Seven Stars is a joint venture between a group of new farmers, the Department of Agriculture and Amadlelo to resuscitate 750 hectares of irrigation and to milk 2 000 cows.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing‘s chairman Pieter Graaff won the Farmer of the Year.
