Tshilidzi Matshidzula wins MPO Nedbank Stewardship award 2020
11 November 2020
Tshilidzi Matshidzula of Little Barnet Farm in Alexandria, in the Eastern Cape, was announced as the winner of the fourth prestigious MPO Nedbank Stewardship award at the awards ceremony during the virtual annual congress of the Milk Producers' Organisation (MPO) on Wednesday, 4 November.
Coenraad and Candice de Jongh of Blomfontein in Groot Brakrivier were the second-place winners, with Ginkel Jordaan of Spekboomberg in Cradock in third place. Their prizes, sponsored by Nedbank, were R40 000, R30 000 and R10 000 respectively, to pursue stewardship goals on their farms.
The MPO uses the three pillars of sustainability: profitability (economic), people (social) and planet (environment) to help dairy farmers be best positioned to operate successfully in the future. Stewardship is truly about meeting all three pillars, of which profitability is as essential as the other two pillars.
The judges were very impressed with the finalists’ passion for the people and animals on their farms, their use of technology and regenerative agricultural practices to improve efficiency, their in-depth knowledge and hands-on approach, their focus on the training of farmworkers and the upliftment of the surrounding community, and the high level of innovation they employed.
Matshidzula was lauded for his excellent farm management practices and attention to detail, which includes extensive consultation with experts and peers to maintain best practice. His team of farm managers all participated in his student mentorship programme. His outstanding work to empower and uplift the surrounding community through training, mentorships and funding was unrivalled, the judges said.
The judges were very impressed by Matshidzula’s innovative measures to clean the water of the stream running through his farm in order to have acceptable quality water for use on the farm and at the milking parlour.
Barbara Bieldt, manager of stewardship and regulatory issues at the MPO, said: 'Tshilidzi has extraordinary vision and definitely knows what is required for future sustainability.'
Second-prize winners Coenraad and Candice de Jongh impressed the judges with their excellent herd management programme, and in particular their extensive knowledge of animal health, welfare and calf-rearing practices. The judges said their environmentally friendly farming practices and conservation of land and species were top-notch.
Ginkel Jordaan's management of soil nutrients on his pastures and use of alternative energy were outstanding, the judges said.
Daneel Rossouw, Nedbank’s divisional agriculture manager for the Southern Division, said Nedbank was very proud to sponsor this prestigious award, which recognises dairy farmers who are excellent stewards of their farming enterprises. ‘This talks to sustainability in the wider context and encompasses aspects such as protecting our natural resources, fair and ethical treatment of people and animals, producing a safe and healthy product, and farming profitably. The standard of entries this year was exceptional and we heartily congratulate the deserving winners.'
'Congratulations to our well-deserving winners Tshilidzi, Coenraad, Candice and Ginkel!’ Bieldt said. ‘The MPO is proud of our outstanding dairy stewards.'
Find the MPO online
Website: www.mpo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MilkProducersSA
Twitter: @MilkMpo
For more information
Barbara Bieldt
Manager stewardship and regulatory issues
