FARMING TO FEED THE NATION

An open heart and hand is the recipe for success of a Kroonstad project, which can be attributed to the belief of farm owner Izak Kheswa to give back to his community. He believes that sharing the yield of his land with those in need is a blessing on his farming achievements over the past three decades.

His grandfather, Skepsel Kheswa, and his father, Thomas, used to work according to the old farming principle of a third share of production.

“Baba Skepsel and my father used to retain a ration of maize for domestic use,” Izak Kweza says. He follows the same principle and retains 10 tons of maize annually for clientele maize meal rations for his workers and other causes. “The Lord demands that we take care of the needy.”

Izak is extremely proud of the fact that they are consuming maize meal produced on his farm.

Izak says his ultimate dream is to be able to feed 3 million of the total population.

“I will regard myself as a proper commercial farmer when my maize crop totals 3 000 tons, and each person can receive a 1 kg maize ration.”

Izak Kheswa (second from right) with his support team. Pictured from left are Kabelo Moletsane, Mahumene Rhandzu (both agricultural district office, Fezile Dabi District Municipality), Izak and Piet Delport (Pannar). Seated on the planter are brothers Robert and Jackson Kheswa. PHOTOS: JOHAN NORVAL

Izak owns a fleet of vehicles like trucks, several tractors, trailers, and a variety of farming implements. One of the needs restricting his farming operation is a highhorsepower tractor for deeper tillage up to 700mm to enable the plants to benefit from moisture at deeper levels. At this stage his operation is up to 400mm.

“We farm with moisture and if you cannot utilise the deeper levels of moisture, the plants will not thrive.”

The 68-year-old Izak started his farming career in 1994 when he bought the 334 hectares of the farm Holfontein near Heilbron, formerly owned by Flip Snyman. One of his sons, Jackson, runs the farm presently. He acquired his present Middenspruit farm (997 hectares) near Kroonstad in 2015.

Born in the Lindley district as the son of a farm labourer he started off as a lorry driver in Gauteng, hauling fertiliser and cement.

On his trips, he took note of vegetable production and started trading in tomatoes and other vegetables. With his profit he bought several trucks and later set up shops and butcheries in Evaton, Sasolburg, Parys, Heilbron and Petrus Steyn.

His interest in vegetables eventually led to farming. He still intends to cultivate 30 hectares of vegetables which allows the grower to demand his own prices, compared to grain production where the farmer is just a price taker.

Speaking of grain cultivation, he says that he favours Pannar seed since his first days as farmer.

Grain production is important for his cash flow and as winter fodder for his 200 head of Bonsmara type cattle.

Izak is hands-on with amongst others the planter and boom sprayer calibration and two of his sons, Robert and Jackson, are responsible for the planting and harvesting.

The maize hybrids PAN 5R-582R (yellow) and PAN 5R-891BR (white) were planted between 25 November and 17 December 2021 on a total of 200 hectares at a plant population of 24 000 plants per hectare.

Izak Kheswa with PAN 5R-891BR with which he wants to feed the nation.

About 120 hectares of soybeans (plant population: 300 000/ha) and 50 hectares of sunflower (plant population: 42 000/ha) were planted as part of the crop rotation. The planting rows were spaced at 91 cm.

The long-term average dryland yield is 4,6 t/ha for maize and 1,5 t/ha for soybeans and sunflower.

The fertiliser application of 3:2:0 (36) is 175-246 kg/ha and urea (46) at 100 kg/ha.

The herbicide application of Roundup (1,5 litres/ha) with Imiboost to improve the efficacy of the herbicides.

When the moisture level of the maize reaches 12% the Kheswa clan transports the crop about 20 km to Hinterland’s Attie silo where it is stored and sold at a favourable price level.

Izak acknowledges the support of his Pannar representative Piet Delport, who advises him regularly during farm visits. As part of the company’s empowerment project, the Kheswa project received five bags of Pannar maize seed. “I admire Izak for his positive decisiveness. When work needs to be done, they do not procrastinate.”

Izak reduces his farming risk with the appropriate short-term insurance, especially fire cover. And to minimise the theft of his maize crop in the adjacent Kroonstad area, he intends to replace the maize cultivation with grain sorghum once an offset for the production can be negotiated.

ENQUIRIES: Izak Kheswa, Middenspruit farm, Kroonstad (071-835-8555) and Piet Delport (082-448-5704), piet.delport@pannar.co.za; www.pannar.com