One day, after quitting his studies in 1997 and moving back home, Sindile Lloyd James asked his mother for money to buy a pair of shoes. Her response served as a wake-up call for James that life wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. “She basically told me that I was old enough to fend for myself,” he recalls.
James pulled himself together and got a job at a shop in his home town of Pearston in the Eastern Cape, where he earned “a measly R70 [about R258] a week”. Fortunately, the shop owner spotted that he was a quick learner and good with people, so promoted him to a client services position after only a few months on the job.
But James wanted more out of life than a nine-to-five job. He had always loved reading, especially the Sunday newspapers, and in this way he learnt about becoming an entrepreneur.
His father owned a fencing business, so the two started tendering together for fencing jobs. Eventually, after gaining some experience James began securing his own jobs and, in 2007, while erecting a 150km fence at the Ibamba Private Game Reserve in Jansenville, he struck up a friendship with the reserve’s neighbouring farmer, Philip Gxotiwe. When asked if he was interested in farming, James admitted to Gxotiwe that he had always dreamt of having his own farm. On communal land in Pearston, his parents used to keep goats and pigs, which they slaughtered and sold to the community.
“It was highly lucrative, yet hard work, as my mother had to walk almost 11km to sell the meat. She did this for a few years until we finally had enough money to buy our first car, a white Nissan Pulsar. She’s one of my biggest inspirations, a great example of what you can achieve if you work hard and give of your best,” he says.
Denne historien er fra June 11, 2021-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 11, 2021-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
