Meet Phikolomzi Dlamini, a young farmer from Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, who’s quickly making waves in the livestock farming world, not just in Mzansi but across Africa. He recently took a trip to Benin, West Africa, to share his expertise in vocational agriculture studies with UKZN.
Phikolomzi’s passion for farming isn’t just in his daily work—his Instagram radiates with stunning shots that offer an inside look at his farm life. I first met him while prepping for the 2024 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba in Pretoria earlier this year, and his dedication to sustainable farming and community empowerment really stood out.
He is one of the lucky few who found his calling early on. At just 26, he’s already a big shot in South African agriculture—a path he set his sights on in Grade 6 after a presentation by Vryheid Agricultural High School. Since then, he hasn’t looked back.
In this chat with OCZA.ONLINE, Phikolomzi opens up about his time in Benin, the importance of vocational education, how he uses social media to tell powerful farming stories, and the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in Africa, along with his vision for its future.
OCZA: During your recent trip to Benin, you offered vocational training in agriculture. What were some of the key insights and lessons you shared and brought back, especially when it comes to the unique agricultural challenges and opportunities in Africa?
P: I went to Benin to do vocational training at the University of Agriculture in the village of Ketoú. I covered topics related to cattle and small ruminants, including biosecurity and basic animal health. One major challenge is disease management. Livestock diseases, such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), are prevalent and severely impact productivity, leading to significant economic losses for farmers. Limited access to veterinary services exacerbates this issue, as there is a shortage of professionals and insufficient access to vaccines and medications, resulting in high livestock mortality rates.
Another issue is nutrition and feed availability, which fluctuates seasonally. During dry seasons, quality feed becomes scarce, causing malnutrition and reduced productivity. When feed is available, it’s often too expensive for smallholder farmers who rely on natural grazing or homegrown fodder.
Breeding and genetics also pose a challenge, as many local breeds have low meat productivity despite their resilience to local conditions. Improved breeding programs are needed, but the lack of artificial insemination (AI) services, particularly in remote areas, limits genetic advancements.
Finally, market access remains difficult due to poor infrastructure. In rural areas, inadequate roads and market facilities hinder farmers’ ability to bring their livestock to market.
Opportunities:
There are significant opportunities in adopting improved breeds through crossbreeding programs. By combining the resilience of local breeds with the productivity of improved ones, farmers can have livestock better suited to local conditions while also achieving higher yields. Expanding access to AI services can improve livestock genetics, leading to better productivity in milk, meat, and egg production.
Improved disease control is another important area. Training community members as para-vets or animal health workers can extend basic veterinary services to remote areas, improving disease management. Vaccination campaigns, supported by governments and NGOs, can help control major livestock diseases, reducing deaths and improving herd health.
There is also potential in feed production and management. Developing local feed industries using agricultural by-products and local resources can reduce reliance on expensive imported feed. Promoting the cultivation of forage crops and using crop leftovers for animal feed can help maintain a steady supply throughout the year.
In terms of livestock value chain development, investing in facilities such as slaughterhouses, dairy processing plants, and cold storage can add value to livestock products and create new income streams for farmers. Building better connections between farmers and markets, possibly through cooperatives or digital platforms, can help improve market access and stabilize prices.
Lastly, sustainable livestock practices are key. Implementing sustainable grazing and pasture management can protect soil health and prevent overgrazing, making livestock production more resilient. Integrating livestock with crop production, where manure is used to fertilize crops and crop residues are fed to animals, can enhance farm productivity and sustainability.
OCZA: Vocational education plays a crucial role in equipping young people with practical skills. How do you see vocational training in agriculture evolving in South Africa, and what lessons from your time in Benin could help enhance our local programs?
P: In Benin, vocational training often incorporates local farming practices and cultural knowledge, making it more relatable and effective. South Africa could benefit from integrating indigenous knowledge systems and local agricultural practices into its training programs. Additionally, hands-on training is crucial. In Benin, practical fieldwork and real-life farming scenarios are prioritized, which better prepare students for the workforce. South African programs should focus more on these practical elements.
OCZA: Your Instagram presence has become a major source of inspiration for aspiring farmers. How do you think digital content creation can be harnessed to promote agriculture and draw more young people into the sector across Africa?
P: Digital content can be harnessed by showcasing success stories to highlight the rewards of agriculture and make it more appealing. Educational content provides valuable information and practical tips. Demonstrating innovation shows how modern techniques are transforming the sector. Promoting sustainable farming practices emphasizes the importance of environmental care. Digital platforms can also connect people with opportunities and facilitate collaborations and partnerships. Overall, effectively using digital content can draw more youth into agriculture across Africa.
OCZA: Sustainability and innovation are at the core of modern farming practices. How do you integrate these principles into your own farming activities, and what advice would you give to young farmers looking to embrace sustainable practices?
P: At the farm where I work with cattle, we practice rotational grazing by moving livestock regularly to different pastures. This prevents overgrazing, promotes regrowth, and enhances soil health. We also focus on integrated farming, where animal waste is used as fertilizer for our garden and lawn areas.
OCZA: Advice for young farmers?
P: Start small and continuously educate yourself. Don’t hesitate to collaborate and learn from others, and always keep your long-term goals in mind.
OCZA: Looking to the future, what are your aspirations for agriculture in South Africa and the broader African continent? How do you see young farmers like yourself playing a role in this vision?
P: My vision for agriculture in Africa includes achieving food security by becoming self-sufficient in food production, reducing our reliance on imports, and tackling food insecurity. Empowering the next generation of African farmers to take on leadership roles is crucial; we need young people to drive change and shape the future of farming. Agriculture can also be a major driver of economic development, creating jobs, alleviating poverty, and improving the quality of life across Africa. To achieve this, we must embrace new technologies, modern farming techniques, and data-driven practices to boost productivity and efficiency. Young farmers like myself can contribute by adopting and promoting sustainable practices, driving innovation, advocating for policy changes, building networks and communities, and focusing on education and mentorship to guide the next generation.
OCZA: You were on the panel of young farmers that questioned former Minister of Agriculture, now Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza, at the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba. With the recent shifts in ministerial leadership, especially in the agriculture sector, do you believe any meaningful changes have been implemented since then? How do you see these changes impacting the future of farming in South Africa?
P: To be honest, I haven’t seen much change yet. Maybe that’s because everyone is still settling in and new plans are being implemented. The unemployment rate among agricultural graduates remains high, and many are still seeking employment. I’m hopeful that the government will create more job opportunities for both new and experienced graduates. There’s also a need for youth funding to help start new businesses in agriculture and support those already established. I hope that over time, we will see positive changes that will impact the future of farming in South Africa.
