Monsanto Director the 2005 Agriculturist of the Year

November, 2005 - Kobus Lindeque, Africa Director of Monsanto was recently recognised for his contribution to the advancement and understanding of biotechnology as was announced as the 2005 Agriculturist of the year by the Agricltural Writers Assocation of South Africa.

For the first time in the history of South Africa nine commercial farmers and nine agriculturists, each nominated from one of the nine provinces, competed on equal footing with each other farmers for the coveted award of National Farmer and Agriculturist of the Year.

The year’s awards event, sponsored by Old Mutual en Mutual & Federal Agri was held Friday evening, 4 November, in Pretoria.

For the past 28 years the association has selected a National Farmer of the Year and Agriculturist of the Year and the event is an annual highlight on the agricultural calendar. In the past candidates were only selected in the four regions of the association, but this year candidates are selected in each of the provinces.

The provincial Agriculturists of the Year that have been awarded for their contribution to the agricultural sector is: Kobus Lindeque, Africa director of Monsanto for his contribution to the advancement of biotechnology, for Gauteng, Theo de Jager for his role to establish the National Agri Land Forum, for Limpopo, Cois Harman of First National Bank, previously of Grain SA, for his contribution to the developing maize industry, for North West, Mart Farina for research on soil fertility, for KwaZulu-Natal Willie Roeloffze of Potato Seed Production for his contribution to the cultivation of virus-free potato seeds, for Mpumalanga. Hendrik van Pletzen, technical manager of Voermol from Bloemfontein for the Free State Prof. Barbara von Wechmar, for her continuous efforts of more than 50 years as a micro biologist and plant pathologist for the Western Cape Dup Haarhof, manager of farmer services of GWK in Douglas for the Northern Cape Jan Hoon, agronomist from the Grootfontein Agricultural College for the Eastern Cape.

Casper Badenhorst, pineapple farmer from Hluhluwe is the 2005 National Farmer of the Year.

This year’s candidates for the Farmer of the Year Award were: Gauteng: Ms Sabina Khoza, a chicken farmer from Zuurbekom Mpumalanga; Willem Kruger, a cotton farmer of Loskopvallei Limpopo: Mike Bosch, a cattle farmer of Radium North West: Deon Bothma, maize farmer of Mareetsane KwaZulu-Natal: Casper Badenhorst, pineapple farmer from Hluhluwe Easter Cape: John Stretton, sheep and cattle farmer from the Molteno-district Noord-Kaap: Peu Bezuidenhout, a pioneer table grape producer from Keimoes Western Cape: Nelius van Greunen, a dairy farmer from George Free State: Llewellyn Angus, a Simmentaler and Simbra and Merino- and Döhnemerino sheep farmer from Arlington.

Another first for the Association was the new Award for the Emergnet farmer of the Year which went to mrs. Anna Bock, a farmer from Pofadder who farms on her own farm Caboob.

“Despite similar competitions in the recent past, the Agricultural Writers’ annual awards are still seen as the prime awards to acknowledge farmers and other agricultural personalities for their contributions to the industry.

Kobus Lindeque, Africa Director of Monsanto receives his trophee from Charl van Rooyen, Chairman of the Agricltural Writers Assocation. Kobus was recently recognised for his contribution to the advancement and understanding of biotechnology as was announced as the 2005 Agriculturist of the year by the Agricltural Writers Assocation of South Africa.