KZN Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) has begun the search to find the top young farmer who will represent the province on the national stage later this year.
The union is calling on all its member farmers under the age of 40 to submit entries for this year’s Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year competition.
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The winner of the provincial competition will go on to represent Kwanalu and KZN at the national 2024 Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year Awards.
The competition aims to shine a spotlight on their contribution to the sector, as well as ensuring food security and employment creation.
“Recognising the innovative spirit and dedication of our province’s young farmers is not just about celebrating their achievements, but about igniting a flame of inspiration for aspiring farmers and the next generation to carry on the vital legacy of agriculture,” said Kwanalu CEO Sandy La Marque.
The annual event further aims to recognise farmers, irrespective of their role [as farmers or farming partners], gender, commodity or farm size, and their unique contributions to production, marketing, staff management, organised agriculture, community involvement and innovation.
“We welcome nominations from the public and industry stakeholders as we celebrate the future of KZN agriculture.
“Their stories deserve to be highlighted on the provincial and national stages as examples,” said La Marque.
The overall provincial winner will join a long line of farmers, some from the Zululand region, who have previously won the coveted prize.
These include eShowe sugar cane farmer Simon D’Aubrey who was awarded the provincial title of Kwanalu Young Farmer of the Year 2019.
The prize was last year bagged by Lüneberg timber, maize, soybean and free range cattle farmer Heiko Gevers.
Gevers’ organised, systematic and detail-orientated approach to farming stood out against competitors.
“As farmers, we are constantly surviving new challenges, whether environmental, economic or political. But we are united in that we are aligned to a common goal; providing for the nation.
“It is of the utmost importance to have good working relationships with neighbours and the community to ensure a long-term farming future. At the end of the day, we have to look after one another,” said Gevers.
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