It was action stations at the fruit drying quad at Welgemeen Farm on the day of my visit and the delicious smell of ripe pears hung in the air as workers halved and cored pears for sun drying. Leopont Properties is the management company for Welgemeen Farm, a 120 ha top fruit and stone fruit unit near Prince Alfred Hamlet in the Ceres valley.

Welgemeen was purchased in 2005 and the beneficiaries of the Lushof, De Eike and Dennekruin Farmworkers’ Trusts (208 in total) own a 60% share and the remaining 40% share is owned by their employers, cousins Robert and Pieter Graaff. The beneficiaries of these workers’ trusts bought their 60% share in the property with a grant from the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development Fund (LRAD) of the then Department of Land Affairs. Since then the farm has developed 44 hectares of new orchards of which 28 hectares of old orchards were replaced. The varieties of these orchards have been chosen according to the current market demand and include both internationally
sought after grower club varieties as well as the new Culdevco drying varieties.

“We received 3 ha of Forelle and 1.5 ha of Abate Fetel pear trees through the HORTGRO tree project,” says Jacobus Mitas, production manager and shareholder of Welgemeen. “We are thrilled about this as we received exactly what we asked for. We planted these trees in 2009 and they are now at second leaf and growing well.” Jacobus very recently became a grandfather and said that he sees these trees like children to be nurtured as they provide the promise for the future. Simon Langenhoven is the general manager at Leopont Properties and he is very happy with the growth of these trees.

“The directors and trustees of Leopont Properties and the workers’ trust know about the gift of these trees and there is a sense
of excitement about this grant. We have been closely involved with the HORTGRO tree project as the launch of the project by
Minister of Agriculture Gerrit van Rensburg was held here at the Lushof Community Centre,” says Robert Graaff.

“Leopont Properties is now in its sixth year of existence and last year we were able to pay a dividend. This was a total of R1 million split amongst our 208 beneficiaries.”

“When we started the project we said that we would pay out a dividend after five years and we were able to keep to our promise.
This will not be possible every year as it depends on the crop and the market forces,” explained Robert. “The important thing about
the shareholding in the property is that the value of the equity is worth three times what it was five years ago.

“There is a perception within government that equity schemes do not work or do not deliver financial rewards, but they should take cognisance of this real growth. Some of our beneficiaries have passed away and the complexities and cost of sorting out their estates also becomes the responsibility of the commercial entity. This is an unforeseen fi nancial cost of the Workers’ Trust.

“We are grateful for the financial support that Leopont received from both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land Affairs. The company has been able to upgrade the farm’s operational infrastructure as well as the housing, crèche and ablution facilities,” says Robert Graaff. “A large part of the success of this project is due to strict adherence to sound management practices and fostering good human relations,” he added.

Subsequent to the interview Robert Graaff added the following. “An application for funding for ten of our workers to receive five ha each, to plant at Romansriver in Wolseley has just been approved by HORTGRO and the Department of Agriculture. This will be in partnership and managed by Graaff Fruit. The fi rst 30 ha will be planted this year, and 37 500 trees will be supplied via this scheme. This is a great opportunity to reward loyal employees within the business, if managed in the correct way.”

When Trevor Abrahams bought his farm in 2000 on the outskirts of Ceres, it comprised 17 ha of cover crop fields with summer water for 12 ha under pressure. Through hard work, engaging with organised agriculture and help from a supportive mentor, he has expanded his farm to 39 hectares in total with 22 ha under orchard plantings.

Trevor’s enthusiasm and commitment to agricultural development has been highly successful both on his property as well as his
willingness to invest his time in the cause of development within the agricultural sector.
“Since 2009 the biggest change has been the establishment in 2008 of a new organisation for emerging farmers in the Western Cape,” says Trevor. “I am the president of this organisation, United South African Agricultural Association (USAAA), which currently has 3 800 members. This has taken a lot of time and funding to establish. USAAA has received funds from agricultural assistance entities such as Agrimega, AgriMES and BKB Auctioneers. USAAA now has offices in Paarl with a good management team.

“I am still on the farm full time despite these commitments. Trevor’s Farm now comprises 39 ha in total with 22 ha under orchard plantings. In 2010 I received five hectares of fruit trees from the HORTGRO tree project. This consisted of two popular plum varieties African Delight and September Yummy, white flesh nectarines Arctic Star and Turquoise, dessert peaches Britney Lane and also Forelle pears. The tree project will increase my farm’s production by a third once the trees start producing. The quality of the trees I received is great and they are all growing well. The HORTGRO tree project has set firm foundations for emerging farmers and this could be expanded in the future.

“In my capacity as president of USAAA I have significant insight into the sectors of agriculture other than the fruit industry and it
is clear that HORTGRO represents the sector that has made the most advances in the field of development and research. They are truly leaders in this field. “Experience has taught me that although farming is very fulfilling it is not easy and also very high risk. Many people want land and to become farmers, but do not realise how hard, competitive and risky farming really is. The assistance package from
the Department of Agriculture for emerging farmers has changed and become more realistic. What has become available now makes it possible for small farmers to achieve true economic transformation to progress from emerging farmers to commercial farmers. The level of co-operation between the various relevant government departments has improved and this is working better to assist farmers.

“There is now a more commodity (organised agricultural bodies representing a specific product) based approach. The development
arms of the various commodity organisations are now working more closely with government to support emerging farmers. “Mentorship and neighbourly assistance is vital to the success of these initiatives. My personal experience in this regard has been pivotal in my success. Robert Graaff has been my mentor for twelve years and during this time the services from him, his pack house and his exporter have helped me to establish a successful and growing business. I still have further plans for expansion. “On my farm I am also in a partnership with a French businessman in a Saffron production venture. The bulbs have only been growing for one year and it is still in the development phase.”

He also qualified for an AgriSETA bursary for the duration of his studies. Justin studied very hard and worked on our Welgemeen farm during his holidays. After he finished his studies he was appointed as Junior Production Manager on Romansrivier (division of Graaff Fruit).

AgriSETA annually gives an acknowledgement to people achieving in the field of Agriculture. and Justin received this acknowledgement this year.

This is a big achievement for our region! Graaff Fruit is exceptionally proud of Justin and privileged to have such high quality workers.

Saul took part in the middle management category and received first price. Out of all the participants Saul also received first price in the Witzenberg district.

He also entered in the National Farmworker of the Year competition, but we’re stull waiting on results. All of us at Graaff Fruit is proud of him and wishes him best of luck!