This is according to Free State Agriculture CEO Henk Vermeulen during a media tour to showcase two farming operations in the Harrismith area. OFM News’ agri editor Sabrina Dean was there and filed this report.

Members of the media have been given first-hand experience of innovative, positive farming stories during visits organised by Free State Agriculture to Fyvie Farming and Sesisonke Farming.

Fyvie Farming has diversified its interests across a range of products, with apple production accounting for about 50% of the operation.

There are more than 70 hectares of orchards and head of the family run farm, Neil Fyvie, says although there are several challenges to apple production in the area, such as late frost and hail, the big benefit is their apples are ready several weeks before those in the main apple producing region in the Cape.

FSA CEO Henk Vermeulen had a lot of praise for the Fyvie Farming approach:

“I was very impressed to see how they integrate their whole farming enterprise within this utilisation of all the products. I think this is the way that we need to approach every product that is being produced on the farms.

“If we can get to that point we will create more jobs, we will create more products and I think the economy will be boosted in a miraculous way.”

Meanwhile James Leslie of Sesisonke Farming has introduced practices aimed at improving the quality and health of the foods they produce, while at the same time giving back to the community. This includes initiatives ranigning from training and worker development, to the provision of a housing village on a farm purchased for this purpose.

Sabrina Dean/OFM News