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Slow rewards of the soil
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Shannon Sherry
Financial Mail
Friday, May 14, 2010
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Jethro Mbau speaks with admiration of the energy, vision and commitment of SA’s leading farmers.
As chairman of listed agricultural company Afgri, he has got to know the people who produce SA’s food well. He has visited many of their farms and even slept in their homes.
“It distresses me when reckless people call for the destruction of our farming community,” he says. “Yes, there are a few rotten apples, but the vast majority contribute meaningfully to SA.”
With its long-term, seasonal outlook, agriculture is a different animal to his previous career as a vice-president of Citibank in London, New York, Chicago and Johannesburg.
“Banking people want quick returns. At Citibank it was not uncommon to be asked how much money I’d made for the bank that day. In farming it takes a long time to make money — and you might never do so.”
The long-term investment and risk inherent in farming bedevils government’s efforts to transform the demographics of land ownership in SA.
“When I encourage black people to enter farming and tell them they will have to invest a lot — and then wait a long time for returns — they look at me as if I’m crazy. Perhaps I am. But, of course, when you own land you have to use it productively. You have to farm it.”
On his own 500ha farm in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, he grows bananas, pomegranates, sugar cane and dragon fruit.
Mbau says: “Black people have sucked on the hind tit for so long that they need to be in charge now. I’ve been told: ‘I don’t want to work in the fields — I want to be director-general of agriculture.’ But you can’t be in charge before you’ve worked at the bottom.”
He recounts a conversation with a farmer: “We were on his stoep, drinking brandy and Coke, and he said to me that if you gave anyone R5m — as a gift, no repayment needed — and told him to farm, he would fail. I asked him whether R10m would do it and he said: ‘He would stand a better chance, but he would probably still fail.’
“It’s expensive to get started. Machinery, implements, land, seeds — these things are all costly.”
But there’s no doubt the rewards of farming are simple: fulfilment and a deeply gratifying way of life. “When you have an affinity with the soil, when everything comes together and you get it right, there is no better life,” says Mbau.
Mbau believes it is easier for children of farming families to become farmers. He has two sons (30 and 25) and a daughter (17).
“Farmers’ children inherit the land and, from a young age, they’re attuned to it. They’re not attracted to bright lights and big cars.”
He believes the best option for successful land reform might be partnerships between emerging farmers and existing commercial farmers.
Mbau was born in Johannesburg but spent part of his youth in Kimberley. He studied commerce and administration.
Though 58, he looks 10 years younger, despite the ravages of 21 visits to the operating theatre. “I’m a sports fanatic of long standing, and that has taken its toll. I played rugby, soccer and cricket, and I even considered turning professional in tennis.” But the most damage was sustained in weightlifting, costing him five operations on his spine and nine on his ankles. Sadly for a businessman, it means golf is out.
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