FORMER MINER STRIKES GOLD WITH CONSERVATION FARMING

In 2000 Solomon Masango presented the family of his future wife, Maria, with seven cows to pay her lobola. They accepted four cows as part payment, but wanted cash for the remaining portion of Maria’s lobola. Once the cash was paid, Solomon kept the three cows the family had turned down and these animals formed the small but solid cornerstone of his farming business.

Fifteen years later, Solomon was named the 2015 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year. He farms 1 500ha over three farms, with 600ha under grain and the remainder used for grazing. He owns a paid-up fleet of tractors, planters and harvesters, and runs 300 crossbred cows, 11 Bonsmara bulls and two Boran bulls, 120 goats and a few sheep.

GOOD LESSONS LEARNT YOUNG

Solomon says his path to success was not an easy one and took its toll in blood, sweat and tears. His father died before he was born and he was raised by his mother. He left school in Grade 7 to find work in Pretoria so that he could help his mother. In the Jacaranda City