“Both livestock and crop farmers have experienced losses. Cattle auction schedules where farmers would have sold their cattle and generate income to support their families, were all cancelled.”
He said Covid came shortly after foot and mouth disease which also took its toll on cattle livestock farmers.
The same plight applies to crop farmers who could not deliver their produce to markets. “
Produce which were by then already at the national fresh produce markets couldn’t be sold,” he said. Mthembi was born and bred in Mafarana village outside Tzaneen and is an employee of the department of agriculture, who has served local farmers for the past 35 years.
His job entails promoting departmental programs and directions towards addressing food security and poverty alleviation.
His passion for agriculture is derived from seeing his clients successfully achieving their goals, as he assist them throughout their journey.
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He told the Herald that the industry has changed throughout the years.
“In the distant past agriculture was solely subsistence farming by the older generation. However, that is no longer the case. We see a growing number of both women and the youth in progressive farming activities,” he says.
“Encouraging in this regard is the fact that an element of phenomenal economic growth and job creation is noticed. This is quite noticeable in both animal and crop farming fields,” he explained.
Mthembi says he like working with young farmers as they complement and challenge him.
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“My mission is also to dispel all the negative attitudes towards farming among the young people,” he added.
He also enjoys visiting schools to demonstrate vegetable farming. Mthembi and his colleagues have been visiting schools in the Maruleng area since 2015.
This diligent extension officer says that he is able to identify a committed farmer from “someone working under a government project”.
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He holds an honours degree from the University of Pretoria. “Farmers want good results from their farms and they work very hard towards achieving them. What they need are reliable advice and support throughout,” he added.
During his spare time he enjoys writing, especially compiling stories about the various farmers he comes across.
He also enjoys reading to broaden his general knowledge.
On Sundays he attends the local Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
He concluded by encouraging the community to take full advantage of the resources available to produce enough food for themselves and others
