South Africa's top grain farmers shine

Farmers from across the country received recognition at the Grain SA annual awards for their big contribution to the sector, writes Magda du Toit.

- Magda du Toit

A farmer from Albertinia in the Western Cape, Pieter de Jager was announced as the 2023 Syngenta Grain SA Grain Farmer of the Year at a gala event in Pretoria recently. The Syngenta Grain SA Grain Farmer of the Year finalists and nominees represent grain farmers across the grain-producing areas in the country.

The award focuses on grain farming excellence and is awarded to only the most effective and first-rate grain farmers in the country. It aims to highlight the importance of a grain farmer, not of only being profitable and sustainable, but as a role model and advocate for good farming practices to the benefit of grain production.

In his opening address, Derek Mathews, Grain SA chairperson, said that although there were some that perceived agriculture in SA as two different worlds, at Grain SA they serve all farmers and the awards given include farmers representing all grain farmers in the country. “Grain SA is an organisation for and home to all grain farmers,” he said.

2023 WINNER

Since 2003, De Jager has been farming in the Albertinia area in the Western Cape on the family farm. He joined the business after obtaining his Master’s degree in agricultural management. He is a firm believer that the agricultural sector offers good opportunities to farmers who acts pro-actively.