Advice for future farmers

In this new regular column New Roots asks established commercial farmers and producers all along the value chain for some pearls of wisdom on how to get going and go all the way in agriculture. For starters we asked Johnny Karolus, general manager at Disselfontein in the Koue-Bokkeveld for his pointers. It all started in March 1992 when Johnny was appointed as a general worker on Donkerbos. It was evident that here is someone to take note of. He quickly progressed to tractor driver, pest control foreman in the vegetable division before becoming the loadmaster in the vegetable packhouse. From there into fruit irrigation. In 2004 he became fruit production manager. In 2014 the two farms Donkerbos and Disselfontein became the first PALS (Partners in Agri Land Solutions) project and in 2018 Johnny was appointed farm manager of Disselfontein. With an industry survey done in 2023, the farm was, in terms of net farming income per hectare,

One of the Top 10 apple producers in the district. Johnny is a well established commercial farmer, sharing here some undeniable truths about making it happen.

Opportunities in agriculture are endless. Whether in production, marketing, packaging, and research to name a few, you must search for your specialty.

Most importantly, you must want to do it. With passion.

Theory alone does not make you a farmer; get your hands dirty to get the experience. Don’t be a spectator.

Remember, the product is always bigger than the individual. Never be bigger than the job.

You might be producing food, but you’re working with people.

Agriculture is a team sport.

Never be too clever to ask.

Lead through doing.

Take hard work, dedication, thinking out of the box, and balance it with knowing the basics.

When going into production, remember the product determines your time. Agriculture is never an eight to five job.

Be part of organised agri. That’s where you learn.

Don’t go it alone, make use of support systems.

Good luck and go for it, we need new blood in agriculture. We need the future.