By REGINALD KANYANE
More than 30 farmers in Taung received brand new tractors and farming equipment to the value of R8 million recently. The farming equipment including tractors was donated by South African Breweries (SAB) in conjunction with FarmSol.
The ceremony was held at Ipelegeng Cooperative in Taung. One of the beneficiaries, Sipho Sibinda who farms mainly maize and other crops on his share of the 320 hectares welcomed the donations.
“I am happy because our prayers have been answered. I would like us, as farmers to join hands and be one. Without food, there is no life, so let us be strong and grow this company.
“My farming journey started on a rough patch as I struggled to get contractors for farming machinery in Taung. So, the donation from FarmSol has changed his life,” he said.
Sibinda further said, he is now able to make a good profit. He added that he managed to buy a house and was able to take his kids to a good school.
FarmSol Managing Director, Aron Kole said as part of its ongoing commitment to the development of black farmers, FarmSol Holdings in collaboration with SAB saw it fit to donate new tractors and farming equipment.
Kole said the joint effort by FarmSol and SAB aims to put the power back in deserving farmers’ hands and to raise labour and farm productivity.
“This is part of an R8m investment in black growers by SAB and FarmSol’s sought-after grower support program. It also underscores FarmSol’s long-standing efforts to ensure that access to mechanisation and the latest technologies do not become barriers holding back new-era farmers.
“It restores the hope and dignity of despondent people, who have access to land and now at long last, they can make use of this land. This is something very significant,” he said.
Kole said tractors and farm equipment have the power to bring a farm to life and to enable food production that feeds millions. He said, these tools are the most expensive items you can find on the farm, and SAB and FarmSol have made it possible for the farmers to say, they too are owners.
“FarmSol aims to turn smallholder farmers into sustainable commercial producers. Since the company’s inception in 2016, thousands of smallholder and newly-commercializing farmers have been supported through innovative funding, market access, extension services, and mechanization solutions.
“In total, more than R800 million in production loans have been granted to qualifying farmers across eight provinces in South Africa. North West has not been very good at maximizing its agricultural potential. Yet, it is an important contributor to the Southern African food basket with more than 20% of South Africa’s maize crop produced in the province,” he said.
Kole said, there are other agricultural products produced in the province including cattle, poultry and game, sunflower seed and oil, nuts, citrus, and tobacco. He said the province is home to three distinct climate regions, which allow a wide variety of agricultural activity.
“The drier western region is home to considerable cattle and game farming and hunting, while the central and southern parts are dominated by maize and wheat farming and the production of cash crops,” said Kole.
Meanwhile, SAB vice-president of Corporate Affairs, Zoleka Lisa shared the same sentiments. Lisa said that, SAB is pleased to see the strides that farmers are making in Taung and across South Africa.
“As a business, we are dependent on high-quality agricultural crops from thriving communities and healthy ecosystems to brew our beers. We also care about the people who make this happen and have worked hard to support existing and emerging farmer communities to gain access to agronomic information and best industry practices.
“This includes harnessing technology’s power to improve crop yields and productivity. We’re proud of the relationships we’ve created with our South African farmers, and we are grateful for the highest quality ingredients farmers provide us,” she said.
The Guardian 