Vivian Jakobs says that when he was growing up on the farm Wanganella, which has since been renamed Beste Wens, in the Warm Bokkeveld, people at school in Ceres used to look down on him; they did not expect him to amount to much in life.
Jakobs believes this was because he was a farmworker’s child, just like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. But he has proved them all wrong by working his way up from being a seasonal worker to becoming manager of one of the farms belonging to Crispy Farms, in which the Dutoit Group has a 49% stake. Farmworkers, including himself, have a 51% stake.
On top of this he was recently crowned winner of the Western Cape Agri-Prestige Worker of 2023, which means Jakobs has won a cash prize and an educational trip overseas worth around R80 000.
Jakobs has also become a member of an elite forum consisting of previous winners of the competition, that regularly meet with the Western Cape agriculture minister to discuss matters affecting farmworkers and the agriculture industry.
A VALUABLE TOOL
“I knew I did not have the financial means to study after matric, but my family equipped me with a very valuable tool: they taught me, from a young age, that you can get somewhere in life if you work hard,” he says.
After school he joined the military for two years. When he got back home, work was scarce so initially he was a contract worker on farms. He admits it was not always easy to motivate himself to go to work, especially on very cold or hot days: “On those days, I would remind myself that I was doing this work to provide for and create a better future for my family.”
Denne historien er fra February 09, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra February 09, 2024-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
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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.
