• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Sipho Nondlebe was a shining star in the 2021 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo

This dairy farmer hustled until his haters were silent

21st Jan 2022
In this week’s Farmer’s Inside Track podcast, we are joined by Grahame Osler, the national sales and marketing director at Denmar Estates. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Farmer 101: ‘Asparagus industry needs new entrants’

27th May 2022
Cooking up a storm brings inner peace to fervent foodie

Cooking up a storm brings inner peace to fervent foodie

27th May 2022
Recipe: Spinach and pap team up in this smashing side

Recipe: Spinach and pap team up in this smashing side

27th May 2022
Mapopa Gwengo is the farm manager at an Integrated Aquaculture farm. Photo: Magnificent Mndebele

PJ runs one of Africa’s top aquaponics farms

27th May 2022
South Africans are once again enjoying their beer after a tough 16 months. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

SA beer industry regains its fizz post Covid-19

26th May 2022
5G internet access is being rolled out in both Ethiopia and Kenya. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

5G rollout to propel agritech development in Africa

26th May 2022
Despite an 'alarming' drop in milk consumption and skyrocketing input costs, the number of dairy farmers leaving the industry seems to be dropping. While the Milk Producers' Organisation are somewhat encouraged by this, there is little good news for the small-scale farmers who are being forced out of the industry by market forces

Sales down, costs up: Dairy industry fragile, but stable

26th May 2022
Street traders and small scale farmers are always neglected in times of crisis and the leaders in the agriculture sector have urged government to prioritize them in future to protect our food systems. Photo: Nomfundo Xolo / GroundUp

Suspended permit payments bring relief to CT vendors

26th May 2022
Fresh produce terminals in Durban packed with grapefruit. Photo: Faisal Asmal/CGA

Why have farmers stopped sending grapefruit to China?

26th May 2022
Rice-fish farming began in China and other parts of Asia. Photo: Supplied/Kembangraps

Rice-fish farming: The perfect pair in one place

26th May 2022
Small-scale Mpondoland cannabis grower in Eastern Cape. Photo: Supplied/ Tijmen Grooten

The harsh reality of Mzansi’s cannabis smallholders

25th May 2022
Annalize Steenkamp, founder of Breaking Ground Organics; co-founder of ThinkGreen Rozayne Malyo; Vuyokazi Makapela, a director at Afrivet; and Khaya Maloney, urban agricultural entrepreneur and fouder of Afrileap. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Podcast: Health threats harm animals and food security

25th May 2022
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
11 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Fri, May 27, 2022
Food For Mzansi
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
    • All
    • AgriCareers
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Farmers
    • Groundbreakers
    • Innovators
    • Inspiration
    • It Takes a Village
    • Mentors
    • Movers and Shakers
    • Partnerships
    Mapopa Gwengo is the farm manager at an Integrated Aquaculture farm. Photo: Magnificent Mndebele

    PJ runs one of Africa’s top aquaponics farms

    Agripreneur 101: A skincare producer who trusts nature

    Agripreneur 101: A skincare producer who trusts nature

    Don’t harp on your problems, says proud NW pig farmer

    A burning passion for education and agriculture made it easy for Evelyn Fisher to fulfil her aspirations in the form of an agri academy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Starting her agri academy a lifelong dream fulfilled

    Driving local food security through research

    InnoFoodAfrica project brings food security home

    Iris Telmaggiers (fright), Sophie Sauir and Leoni Pasja harvesting green peppers from Sauir’s garden. Photo: Siphokazi Mnyobe

    Vegetable garden helps Iris cope with son’s death

    Agripreneur 101: Balance is key for this cannabis skincare producer

    Agripreneur 101: Meet a cannabis skincare producer

    Dr Obvious Mapiye, whose studies helped develop new livestock management software. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Dr Mapiye’s driven to help small-scale farmers commercialise

    Paballo Khoza is harvesting lettuce on his 6 000 square metre shade-netted farm in Westonaria Agri-Park. Photo: Magnificent Mndebele/Food For Mzansi

    Sweat, tears and dreadful walks: Khoza finally triumphs

  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi
Home Changemakers Farmers

This dairy farmer hustled until his haters were silent

Sipho Nondlebe overcame all odds to become one of Mzansi’s top young dairy farmers. His advice to newbies? Respect everyone in the workplace and let the results speak for itself while learning even from those who oppose you

by Tiisetso Manoko
21st Jan 2022
in Farmers
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Sipho Nondlebe was a shining star in the 2021 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo

Sipho Nondlebe was a shining star in the 2021 ARC National Master Dairyman Awards. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Sipho Nondlebe has no doubt that teamwork and his commitment to farming is what led him to win a prestigious award at last year’s National Master Dairyman Awards. The Eastern Cape dairyman believes that learning from others, like he did, is key to break the glass ceiling in the agriculture sector.

Late last year Nondlebe won the Agricultural Research Council’s award for the national herd with the best intercalving period. Speaking to Food For Mzansi he encouraged other up-and-coming farmers to work even harder to reach their goals.

Tiisetso Manoko: Congrats on the award! The competition is an annual highlight on Mzansi’s agricultural calendar. Now that the dust has settled, what did the big win mean for you on a personal level?

Sipho Nondlebe: Winning the national award meant a lot for my team and I, and it was a great feeling to see that our work was being recognised at [a competition of] that magnitude.

ADVERTISEMENT

You’re well-known in farming circles, but perhaps give us a brief overview of your journey in the industry. Also, are there particular challenges that you have had to overcome along the way?

I have been in the farming industry for nine years. One of the greatest challenges I encountered was being young and black and working with older people. With time, however, I have grown in the industry and gained a lot of experience which enabled me to meet the challenges that I encountered.

Dairy farming is a white-dominated industry, and you must work very hard to prove yourself [as a black farmer]. Even in our own communities they [sometimes] don’t even believe in young up-and-coming farmers with cultural beliefs. This makes it difficult when young people must manage older people.

The only way I managed to overcome these challenges was to work at the best of my ability, respect everyone in the workplace and let the results speak for me while learning from the very people I have found in the industry.

Sipho Nondlebe (far right) with other winners of the 2021 Agricultural Research Council’s National Master Dairyman Awards. From the left are Nompe Zim, JK Basson and JJ Nel. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
Sipho Nondlebe (far right) with other winners of the 2021 Agricultural Research Council’s National Master Dairyman Awards. From the left are Nompe Zim, JK Basson and JJ Nel. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo

You’re truly exceptional. What would you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

Getting an opportunity to be part of a New Zealand exchange programme where I worked [abroad] for 12 months to further my experience in the dairy industry. Secondly, it will be my appointment as a senior manager of Middledrift dairy which led to great experience. I am enjoying the position so much.

Who mentored you in farming?

I regard Leonard Mavhungu of Amadlelo Agri as my mentor. He has always availed himself, and has always been transparent with information and making sure I have a clear understanding of what I needed to achieve and how to get there. He encourages me to do my best.

The other mentor is Rob Ballantyne of BRH Ballantyne, who was the person I started working for in 2013. He has always wanted nothing but success for me, availing himself for questions or any advice that would help me become a better farmer.

Any advice for new entrants in agriculture?

The only message I would like to pass to young, up-and-coming farmers is if you come to this sector with the intention of only gaining financially, you will not last.

Farming requires you to be passionate with what you are doing. It will test you emotionally and physically. There will be late nights and hard work with little time with your family, but it is very rewarding once you know why you have chosen this industry.

ALSO READ: Illness inspires ‘diva’ to start eco range

ADVERTISEMENT

Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi

Tags: Agricultural Research Council (ARC)dairy farmerEastern CapeNational Master Dairyman Awards
Share196Tweet123Send
Tiisetso Manoko

Tiisetso Manoko

Tiisetso Manoko is a seasoned journalist with vast experience in community media. He possesses diploma in media studies majoring in journalism, certificate in civic leadership. He loves news from all angels with particular interest in local government, agriculture and politics. He is a staunch Mamelodi Sundowns Football club supporter.

Related Posts

Small-scale Mpondoland cannabis grower in Eastern Cape. Photo: Supplied/ Tijmen Grooten

The harsh reality of Mzansi’s cannabis smallholders

by Duncan Masiwa
25th May 2022
0

Small-scale cannabis farmers in South Africa are still operating in illicit and informal markets. After navigating Mzansi’s dagga landscape for...

A burning passion for education and agriculture made it easy for Evelyn Fisher to fulfil her aspirations in the form of an agri academy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Starting her agri academy a lifelong dream fulfilled

by Zolani Sinxo
20th May 2022
0

A burning passion for education and agriculture made it easy for Evelyn Fisher to fulfil her aspirations in the form...

Winter weather is coming, and farmers are advised to stay informed and to prepared as best they could to safeguard their fields and animals. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Weather warning: ‘Be extra cautious for pests, diseases’

by Nicole Ludolph
20th May 2022
0

As Mzansi braces itself for winter to arrive in full force, the National Agro-meteorological Committee warns that farmers should be...

Citrus protest: Residents of Kirkwood gather on the gravel road near Moses Mabhida township. Protesters have been interdicted from entering several farms in the Sundays River Valley. Photo: Bonile Bam/New Frame

Citrus protest: Packhouses empty, signs of sabotage

by Staff Reporter
9th May 2022
0

A major part of the citrus industry in the Eastern Cape is still at an impasse over a labour dispute...

Mapopa Gwengo is the farm manager at an Integrated Aquaculture farm. Photo: Magnificent Mndebele
Inspiration

PJ runs one of Africa’s top aquaponics farms

by Magnificent Mndebele
27th May 2022
0

INSPIRATION: This is the inspiring story of Mapopa “PJ” Gwengo, a farm manager at Integrated Aquaculture, one of the most...

Read more
South Africans are once again enjoying their beer after a tough 16 months. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

SA beer industry regains its fizz post Covid-19

26th May 2022
5G internet access is being rolled out in both Ethiopia and Kenya. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

5G rollout to propel agritech development in Africa

26th May 2022
Despite an 'alarming' drop in milk consumption and skyrocketing input costs, the number of dairy farmers leaving the industry seems to be dropping. While the Milk Producers' Organisation are somewhat encouraged by this, there is little good news for the small-scale farmers who are being forced out of the industry by market forces

Sales down, costs up: Dairy industry fragile, but stable

26th May 2022
Street traders and small scale farmers are always neglected in times of crisis and the leaders in the agriculture sector have urged government to prioritize them in future to protect our food systems. Photo: Nomfundo Xolo / GroundUp

Suspended permit payments bring relief to CT vendors

26th May 2022

This week’s agriculture events: 23 to 27 May 2022

Podcast: Health threats harm animals and food security

Watch: ‘Pres. Ramaphosa, our ancestral land was stolen’

Rice-fish farming: The perfect pair in one place

Agripreneur 101: A skincare producer who trusts nature

Mobile factory brings agri-processing to rural farmers

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 11 global awards in the first three years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Farmer 101: ‘Asparagus industry needs new entrants’

Cooking up a storm brings inner peace to fervent foodie

Recipe: Spinach and pap team up in this smashing side

PJ runs one of Africa’s top aquaponics farms

SA beer industry regains its fizz post Covid-19

5G rollout to propel agritech development in Africa

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
WhatsApp line: +27 81 889 9032
Marketing: +27 71 147 0388
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version