The 2022 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer of the Year, Vinah Khuphukile Mazibuko (62) from KwaZulu-Natal, became aware of the importance of agriculture when she was in her twenties. She observed how families in the area where she lived, planted and grew food from seed to survive.
Although she started farming on a small scale nearly 40 years ago, it was only after joining Grain SA, attending study group meetings and various training courses that her agricultural knowledge really developed. She has transformed from planting to just put food on the table into a farmer farming for profit.
Vinah plants maize and dry beans in a crop rotation cycle and has changed to no-till practices. In the Mazibuko family operation everything is done by hand. Vinah’s husband, Nsiyane Mazibuko, is an outstanding handyman and with their two sons are a great support. One of her grandsons, Senzo, has become Vinah’s right hand and is keen to follow in his grandmother’s footsteps. He is at her side learning from his granny as much as possible. The family also owns cattle, goats and a few chickens.
Despite difficulties and the various challenges posed by communal farming, Vinah is always thinking ahead on how to grow her small farming operation – whether it is through the building of a new structure or an additional business opportunity like chicken farming. Her home has become the ‘agricultural hub’ of the Madolobeni village in the Loskop area in the Estcourt region. She is also teaching community members about no-till farming practices – all while also operating as a community caregiver for the Department of Health.
VINAH’S STORY
What has made you a successful farmer?
If you want to be a successful farmer, you need to love farming – and I love it! You have to enjoy what you are doing with no anxiety or anger. I also follow the agricultural practices I was taught in the training courses and stick to the advice I have been given by Grain SA. This is the only way to grow as a farmer and through farming we progress as well.
How much maize do you plant?
In the 2019/2020 season I planted about 1,6 ha of maize, and harvested nearly 4,5 tons. Last season I planted 2 ha. I realised a yield of 9 tons of which 8 tons were sold on the commercial market to a grain broker in Winterton, while the rest was for own use and livestock feed.
What are some of the challenges you face as a farmer?
Apart from finances, transport is a big problem and climate change also has a huge impact. We also do not have enough clean water for spraying the crops, but our biggest challenge is the cattle of the community that graze where we have planted – even in the fenced areas. We have had to erect crop cages to protect our crops.
Farm facts
Farm: Communal land
Nearest town: Loskop
Region: KwaZulu-Natal
Size: Plot of land for planting, cattle graze on open communal land
Type: Mixed (plants maize and dry beans, owns some livestock)
GRAIN SA’S CONTRIBUTION
- Joined Grain SA in 2015
- Part of Grain SA’s Beyond Abundance project, which is funded primarily out of the farmer’s contribution per hectare
- Member of the Siyalima Siyaphambile study group
Training courses completed:
- Introduction to maize production
- Introduction to dry bean production
- Nutrition: Different food groups
- Nixtamalisation
- Mycotoxins: Safe storage of maize
A mentor’s view:
Graeme Engelbrecht, Grain SA’s regional development manager at the Dundee office, says that Vinah, who has attended many courses to improve her agricultural knowledge, has progressed well over the years. She is a very hardworking farmer who has gained respect from her community and is a true inspiration.
A special word of thanks to the Kgodiso Development Fund, an independent fund founded by Pepsico Inc, who is a partner of Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme (FDP). The Kgodiso Development Fund believes that by building on existing models (like Grain SA’s FDP) and co-creating new ones they – together with their partners – can maximise the impact of their investment.
