 So what are some of the things you could say you've learned being in business? You know the the the president always encourages youth to be in business so that we can create jobs You know, there's so many companies that want to support entrepreneurs But by virtue of you being an entrepreneur yourself within the agricultural space What have you learned about business that maybe you could also share to another young person watching this podcast Buddy to the private property farming podcast My name is Mbali Nwok or your host as always every Tuesdays and Thursdays right here on the private property channel today, we've got an exciting farmer that we're going to be speaking to and Just to get a little bit more get to know about her journey Know a little bit more about herself How has she grown as an individual? being in the farming space yet again her challenges the successes and You know the awards that she's won and what that means to her as a farmer If you have any questions for our guests today, please feel free to comment and we will obviously Respond accordingly because this podcast is for you and don't forget to subscribe onto our YouTube channel So today we're speaking to Ginele Rapesu. She's a farmer and her of enterprise is called KR farming enterprise. Let's get to know her. Ginele. How are you doing? I'm great. Thank you. How are you buddy? I'm doing fantastic It's great to see another woman farmer and to have another conversation with the female farmer So basically, how did you get into the agri industry and maybe tell us a little bit about yourself? The first of again, I'm the first of all thank you again for having me. Well when it comes to agriculture I always say he chose me. I didn't choose it at all. I had no idea I had no interest into being a farmer. I wanted to be an economist So I was my first degree I was starting to be an economist But my father has been a farmer for the past two decades So I've always been following him around going to his meetings. He was and the Chairperson of the National African Farmers Union. So most of the time I would go hand-in-hand with him to his meetings Go to oxys together go to the farm together, but I had no interest at all. So as time went by I Started developing the love for farming Following my father's footsteps and doing a lot of things and helping on the farm and that's how I got into the agricultural sector Right. And so what is it that you farm Ginele? We've formed with crops currently replanted Maze and soya bean. We also have got livestock pigs and cattle Okay, so you said your farmer was in the industry So are you running the family farm or did you now digress and start your own farming enterprise? Currently I've got my farming enterprise, but I don't have land so the land that I'm using is my father's land Okay, I am the director of his business and I am the CEO of my own business Okay, so with the crops that you've mentioned is that both his and your business or is it just crops that you're all farming collectively? It's conjoined. It's both ours Right. And so why grain farming is it something that because your dad started you decided Let me do crop farming and pursue into a little bit to livestock Or did your dad start with livestock and then you obviously bought the crop farming element into the into the family business It was already there, but most of the time he planted me So I introduced crop rotation whereby after a certain season we plant soya bean after certain season we plant Sunflower so I just mixed the crops So it was already there already operating but on a smaller scale now we extended the hectares Fantastic. And I see let's talk about you winning the 2021 RPO Narbo emerging farmer of the year. How did that happen? I also don't know how that happened I got a call from them as an invitation to attend the conference I went to the conference with the mentality of going to learn and networking with other farmers Getting to know different spheres of the agricultural sector So on Thursday evening there was a gala dinner And during that gala dinner while sitting there clapping hands for other people and enjoying their success My name was called apparently I was nominated For being the emerging farmer of the year and I won the award. So whoever nominated me and mentioned my name I'm grateful for that Wow And what has what is that award brought to you? I mean is there a difference now that you are an award-winning farmer What has it brought to you and and the changes basically in your life? It brought a lot of expectations and pressure from people Because now everybody wants to know you they want the advice they want you to mentor them But for me personally, I was grateful that finally A young black female farmer because I got it at the age of 24 that award that Finally getting the recognition that we need within the industry Finally we are being appreciated for our contribution within the agricultural center So for me it meant a lot that I want and it meant a lot to my dad as well because if it wasn't for him I don't think I would have been the award-winning. Yeah, and how's it like? Within those dynamics, you know working with your father in the business You said you are director in the business and then you are a CEO of your own business How is it like juggling the two responsibilities? On top of that, I'm a student so you can imagine how difficult it is I'm doing I'm currently doing my second degree So with with both businesses The KR has not expanded that much the KR farming enterprise currently I help people with business plans You're doing vaccinations and sometimes a bit of mentorship here and then so the the The one that weighs a lot of weight is being the director of my father's business That's where I am the full time Doing everything that you can imagine within the business from bootkeeping From making sure that we produce the best of genes from making sure we access the correct markets If dealing with employees and so forth So it's a bit challenging but we strive because that's what we want we we push And having him to support me and be there as my advisor Is the best because I get to learn at the very same time when your father is your best friend It's not that difficult to talk to him about certain challenges You know and he can see challenges even before I face them so he can lead me into the correct direction So what are some of the things you could say you've learned being in business? You know the the president always encourages youth to be in in business so that we can create jobs You know, there's so many companies that want to support entrepreneurs But by by virtue of you being an entrepreneur yourself within the agricultural space What have you learned about business that maybe you could also share to another young person watching this podcast? My business is not easy Especially within the agricultural sector We're still fighting for a lot of things because some of us we we found me on land that is owned by the state And releasing on a 30 year term We still have a lot of struggles in accessing funds. We still have a lot of struggles in terms of Doing environmental assessments We still have difficulties In getting the simplest incentives like seeds from the government So we are struggling but from my point of view is that through all the struggles we We need to stay persistent through it all because and when we're doing something that you are passionate about It's not that easy to give up because you love it. You are passionate about it. You want to succeed. You want to see it grow so When my passion is pushing me through all these difficulties because we suffered from livestock we suffered livestock saved we suffered from The climate has damaged our our soybean So it's not going to produce the type of profits that we're expecting even after spending so much money For the input costs. So business is fairly not easy But if you strive to push and you are passionate about something and you are strategist You will strive definitely you will be able to continue and keep on moving Despite all the challenges that you're facing Yeah, but besides the bleak picture that you've painted about struggling with finance access to land owning land You know, we're renting from the state for about 30 30 a term lease and I mean in agriculture Uh financial institutions depend on security as land for you to be able to raise money You know over and above other things that you could do to raise money Maybe talk and share to us The milestones that you've achieved over and above just winning the award over and above just starting a business What hits what's personal to you? Um that you've said when you alone in your room and you're saying guinea do I did it What are some of those milestones that that that you You go through as as an individual You know, it's the simplest things, you know, um from the stage where a cow gives birth I get so excited because I'm pushing myself to say I want to get to a reader stage achieve a certain Weight and achieve a certain quality. So when I sit down and measure my milestone, it's literally it's the the little things You know being able to to fix the farm being able to To access the market no matter how small it is But the fact that we could put in money being able to help other people I most of the people that I help are through social medias Being able to work with people from companies as well because they don't have any vaccination plans And I do everything from my own pocket. So I'm being able to help them means a lot to me So, yeah for me, it's it's it's progress. It's success to you Yeah, and what does being a young successful farmer mean to you and especially We are in youth month. How can we draw and attract other young farmers to start farming? And also be successful in their farming ventures I'm still yet to be successful I'm not I'm not I'm still serving the leather. I'm getting there And I always say you build a foundation. Yeah You're fine when you have a stronger foundation It's easy for you to build anything that you want Any way that you wanted secure your foundation Secure foundation with all the knowledge that you can have about farming Have the practicality whether you get the knowledge through University or like myself having a mentor of having someone to follow Or following your broadcast as well at learning from others Do it build that foundation so that where you start you can know where you are going Access all the resources all the information make sure that you've got a well done Business plan make sure that your finances when you go to the government and say can I please have one two three? Can I when you go to The private sector saying can you please bother me with one two three? Everything is in place. You've collected every information Every document that you need so build that foundation Before you want to climb the ladder. We cannot climb the ladder without starting at the bottom So when you have got a solid foundation, it's easy for you to build So whatever that you strive to do whether you want to do Pigary poultry whether you want to do cattle build that foundation Know the different kind of breeds know the kind of materials that you need know the kind of feed that is accessible to you Know your environment. It's very important. So when you've accessed everything, it's easy for you to go up So most importantly have a solid foundation Yeah, I couldn't agree more Ginele and one word that keeps popping up in what you're saying is support Are you currently affiliated with any agricultural? Associations and are you receiving support from them as well as maybe government or private institutions? Currently no no it's just me and my dad All right, and from a mentorship perspective is is your dad the only mentor or have you Befriend at other farmers maybe that are slightly more experienced than you who are currently mentoring you at the stage Yes, I'm I'm being mentored by one of Stetnik's um project manager Patrick squatter. He's my mentor. So I've been learning a lot from that person who has Excellent excellent recommendation from the company who has done an amazing job Who knows everything about cattle that you can mention to him? He will tell you That's why I got the interest in farming with the Bonsmer breed because of my mentor as well so My dad also has mentored a lot of people and I'm most of the people in my circle I would say those I've befriended they're way older, you know And I'm still I want to defend those who are my age so that we can share our challenges and work together And climb the ladder together and hold hands and help each other where we can So I'm still trying to associate myself with those There's other farmers that I've met on twitter with built friendships, but we've never met Face to face. So we are still about to do that Yeah, and I'm glad you're mentioning twitter as a young person You know, we also are starting to rely on technology on online platforms social media also to get some information How important do you think social media is for young farmers to learn about the industry? And maybe connect with other individuals It is important because That's where we spend most of our time On social media. So sometimes you get your clients from social media. You get help from social media I was looking for a planter last year. I just posted on Twitter that I'm currently looking for a planter and a true planter within 30 minutes I got more than 10 recommendations from people So so social media is helping us in different ways because even people who want to post Available available vacancies in the workplace. They post them on social media So far as I think it's very important to invest in it. It's helping us in multiple ways We're even getting necessary informations from social media because Twitter has got spaces where people host different spaces and talk about different things in the agricultural sector from Not only in South Africa, but they involve other people in Africa as well. So I think it's a great investment Yeah, and over and above youth within your farming community Are there other female farmers that are currently farming and do you interact and engage with them from time to time? You know, um I'm I think of the only black female in my area. I'm surrounded by white only and um Those who are black and farming are probably my father's age from 60 and above so So in my area is just me the youngest is just me Honestly, it's just yeah Yeah, as a sum of our conversation can I just want to know what can we do to get more young people farming? I mean, uh, there are a lot of agricultural graduates But uh, it seems like it's we just stopped there, right with the education studying agricultural economics crop production animal production But it's just stops there. So how how much more what what more do we need to do to get Young people into farming so that you don't find yourself In a situation where you are in a town or community where you're the only farmer And any other farmer young farmer out there? So what can we do as young farmers to get more young people into the agri sector? You know, Mali, um, I was telling one of the people from the research council that In order to for us help us not only those who are commercial but help those who are in communities and emerging So that we can accommodate students You we are not fully accredited to take students to do internships on our farms We've been asking for that I for what have been asking for that saying that Even if I cannot provide more but give me students at least 10 Who can do the incentives training on my farm at the very same time? We need to be realistic. Mali is that we are faith. We are facing The greatest challenge which is theft. So when it comes to our farm, we're not fully open To accommodating everyone because we don't know the motives I for one have accommodated a lot of people on my farm and I ended up Using a lot of cattle more than 60 after performing artificial insemination on those cattle. I lost a lot of money from that So it's not easy for me to open my door to anyone. They come to my farm and learn, you know, but at least if a university says to me Here are great students who are doing Animal production accommodate them. I know who I'm going to hold reliable I cannot just take anyone from outside and say come it's not going to be that easy So if a university gives me students, it is way much better. I've been talking to our What we call us they give the government gives us someone who comes and check on the farm here in there Yes, an extension officer saying that can I just get a letter that I can accommodate students, but I've been struggling with that for the past two years And I've got students from different universities saying that our university is asking us to go and do practicals And I can't accommodate even if I do not even have the letter that says I am allowed to do so And then what if the lectures comes to the farm and say no, this farm is not accredited to do so So it will be a waste of time So honestly, we are doing by all means, you know, we're posting pictures. We are encouraging people We're taking videos. We are doing this and that there's auctions We invite people to say no come to an auction and see how things are played out in the market See how things are doing in, you know, there's farmers they come and see and learn about different breeds different People who are there to tell you about genetics that those who are going to tell you about the environment Those who are doing plant and vegetables. They are there as well. We are treating them in so many ways We've got farmers weekly. We've got them lambo. They are there, but are we using them to our advantage? Yeah, you know, if I can if I can it's just like 20 bags to buy farmers weekly. It's in English, you know Just read through learn about it. I post articles. I post pictures, but there's nothing that I don't do The only thing that unfortunately is that I cannot accommodate because I do not have the net us That say you are allowed to stick students. I credit me a modern world Yeah, well, I think you're doing a great initiative and I mean I couldn't agree more I learned a lot through what I do as a farmer Online and also reading agricultural magazines reading the stories that are shared by farmers how they started their journeys They challenges their successes and I took all of that and tried to apply them in my own farming journey So I think you definitely are dropping gems I'm wishing you many more awards to come because just just by you talking You're sharing information. You're teaching you're helping and uh, yeah, I think that's how we can immerse ourselves Into the industry as young people, but thank you so much for joining the podcast Guinele and for speaking to us today Thank you very much for having me. It was an honor to be here It's a pleasure that was guinele rapes. So she is a farmer at kr farming enterprise She's a crop and livestock farmer She started not so long ago, but she's a director at a farmer's business at a father's business As well as a ceo of her own farming enterprise So come on guys if her story is anything but inspiring Then I think you should just start to get to get into farming and it's more so, you know, it's getting lonely out For young people, you know, we want to see more young people out in the farming community So we can have friends we can engage with each other learn from each other There is so much material out there as guinele had shared with us And so do your bit to learn about the industry and it's also just unfortunate He had the challenges that we as farmers face. She did share that You know, she does get a lot of livestock theft Therefore she's had to force and close her own farm for security measures However, we are doing our best as young people to teach and educate other young people Around farming and definitely make use of social media because you can get a lot You can get not only clients teach people but also grow your business through social media If you found this podcast or conversation rather quite insightful Please continue to like subscribe to the following to the farming podcast follow our page and Yes, share some suggestions of who and what you would like to hear Or or what you would like us to discuss right here on the farming podcast. That's it from me I hope you enjoyed the show and I will see you next time