Being nominated as one of the three finalists in the 2024 Potential Commercial Producer of the Year competition is a career highlight for Alfred Gondo (33). This young producer from the Middelburg region in Mpumalanga joined the Farmer Development Programme (FDP) in 2015 and has gained a wealth of knowledge and agricultural skills from it.
Alfred says that his nomination is all thanks to the Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) team who have invested so much in showing him the ‛farming ropes’. Although he has gained a lot of knowledge and skills through the FDP, he knows there is so much more to learn.
After he completed his school career, he was not interested in farming. He started working in construction before becoming a security guard for two years. It was only while working at a leading provider of food service products that his interest in agriculture was truly ignited.
He planted for the first time in the 2015/2016 season, motivated by his late father’s passion for farming. In his first year as a producer, Alfred planted only the 20 ha his father left the family. His dedication and determination to succeed is clear and last season he planted more than 100 ha – 62 ha of soybeans and 42 ha of white maize. Even though climatic conditions were problematic, he still managed to realise a yield of 7,7 t/ha on the maize and 1,1 t/ha on the soybeans. He also plants spinach to help with his cash flow.
Alfred’s love for farming motivates him to dream big and he is planning on increasing his area planted to 500 ha in three years’ time. He has leased another 110 ha from a neighbouring producer, but because he knows that healthy soil means a healthy crop, he still has to do a lot of soil preparation before he can plant there. Alfred also wants to buy more farming equipment to increase his efficiency and productivity.
ALFRED’S STORY
What do you love most about being a producer?
I love planting and growing crops. My love for farming probably comes from my father who was a farm worker but also planted maize and vegetables in a vegetable garden. It is wonderful to see your hard work turning into produce.
How do you give back to the community?
I am mentoring young producers and teaching them how to plant both maize and soybeans. I hope that I can show them how rewarding farming can be. I also hire workers from the community when I need extra labourers and I help the neighbouring producers with mechanisation.
Three tips for developing producers:
- Farm work is all about following the right steps. You have to know the soil and take care of it.
- You have to gain knowledge about everything – from the seed to the market.
- Remember, you may not make profit from the beginning, but keep going.
FARM FACTS
Farm: Koornfontein
Nearest town: Middelburg
Region: Mpumalanga
Size: Planted 100 ha
Type: Mixed – crops (maize and soybeans) and he has recently introduced livestock (cattle and goats)
PGP’S CONTRIBUTION
- Joined Grain SA in 2015
Training courses completed:
Has completed several courses including:
- Crop production NQF Level 2 certificate
- Advanced crop production in maize and soybeans from Grain SA and the Department of Agriculture
- Introduction to farm management and finance from Dunamus Agri Advisory
A mentor’s view:
Jerry Mthombothi, acting regional development manager at the Mbombela office, says that Alfred is focused on improving and growing as a producer. ‘He has very good knowledge on soil correction and follows correct production practices. He also invests his profit back into the farming operation.’
