Farming embedded in the core of Young Farmer 2023 winner

JJ de Nysschen, the 2023 Agri Limpopo and Toyota Young Farmer of the Year, grew up in a farming family and knew he would one day choose farming as a career. He spoke to Magda du Toit.

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Jde Nysschen, the 2023 Agri Limpopo and Toyota Young Farmer of the Year, grew up in a farming family and believes this was the reason he chose farming as a career. After attending the Dr Annecke Primary School in Letsitele and completing his secondary school education at the Ben Vorster High School in Tzaneen, he realised he had never wanted to do nothing else than farming.

In 2010, JJ joined his family's farming operation near Letsitele. In 2015 the farming operation split, with each group within the family establishing their own farming operation. JJ and his father, Koos, continued to farm on the farms Junction, Delhi and Hornby in the Letsitele area as well as a 2 300ha game farm, Vluchtkraal, near Bandelierskop. They farm citrus, game, cattle and chicken broilers in Limpopo.

JJ's strategy focuses on improving the farming business and he will only expand when and where it makes business sense. "I always strive to increase the yield, improve on the quality of the fruit, as well as to remain profitable. I want to focus on the things I can change and improve, and not waste time on those things that are a given,” JJ points out.

He produces oranges, Star Ruby pomelos and lemons on 250ha in the Letsitele valley. At present citrus production constitutes the core of the farming operation, but JJ says the broiler production provides a steady and reliable income.

IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFYING

“One needs to diversify to spread the risk. Although citrus will remain the main focus, the broilers, cattle, and game farming, to a lesser extent, help to spread the risk as well as provide a steady income throughout the year,” says JJ.