Vrystaat Landbou Jongboer finalis - Senwes Tuisblad

54
••• DEvElopiNG aGricUlTUrE
Developing
into success:
the tale of two
triumphant producers
the PROBlemS FaceD BY DeVelOP-
Ing PRODuceRS eVeRY DaY makeS
It DIFFIcult tO cROSS the BRIDge
FROm DeVelOPIng tO cOmmeRcIal
FaRmIng. thIS IS WheRe the helP
OF agRI-BuSIneSSeS, lIke SenWeS,
IS OF much ImPORtance.
> COPy: JuliAS RAMOHlABi
> PHOTOS: JuliAS RAMOHlABi
Over the course of the next year,
Senwes Scenario will take a look at some of the
success stories of emerging producers who are
clients of Senwes.
isaac abdool
PREPARATiON iS THE KEy
Isaac abdool started his career in 1966 as a general
worker on the farm Oeshoek in harrismith. In
>
isaac Abdool
1977 he changed his vocation and worked as transport
manager at hullets (gauteng) until 1985. But
Isaac reverted back to farming and started his own
business in animal speculation in 1989 and from
this, together with the experience he gained at Oeshoek,
a love and passion for the land developed. he
applied for a farm through the Proactive land acquisition
Scheme (PlaS) from the Department of land
affairs in 2006.
In 2007, Isaac acquired a farm through PlaS.
the farm lacked mechanisation, proper infrastructure
and housing. he approached several commercial
banks for a loan – without success, since he
had no collateral to offer. In 2007, Senwes made
the decision to help emerging producers who had
acquired farms through the PlaS programme in the
Vereeniging area. Isaac was one of these producers,
but he decided not to participate in the project for
that season (2007/2008) and opted to acquire the
necessary farming skills first.
he entered into an intensive mentorship programme
for twelve months with neighbouring commercial
producer, herklaas Willemse, and acquired
valuable technical skills as far as grain production
is concerned. During the 2007/2008 season he
www.senwes.co.za • June 2010