By Noko Mashilo
The yellow colour of sunflowers holds deep significance for farmer Rudzani Sadiki of Welgewaagd farm in Thabazimbi, Limpopo.
It symbolises prosperity, resilience and the power of nature. It also embodies hope and perseverance, as farmers navigate challenges like drought, soil conditions and market fluctuations.
Speaking to Vutivi News, Sadiki said the yellow signified the joy that came with successful farming, reinforcing the deep connection between nature, hard work and reward.
“I know that the bigger the sunflower head, the higher its economic value. It is a symbol of growth, opportunity and the enduring spirit of agriculture in the region,” said Sadiki.
Sadiki plants sunflowers on 1285ha of land and sells it raw to Grainvest in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg because.
“It then sells raw sunflower to different markets that process it in order to make cooking oil,” said Sadiki, who was born in Matsa village in Limpopo.
After matric, the 41-year-old-businessman studied for a National Diploma in Agricultural
Management at Unisa.
He also has an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management from the university, and just completed his Honours Degree in Agriculture, specialising in agri-business.
Sadiki said he started farming in 2008 as a broiler contract grower supplying Mike’s Chicken abattoir in Polokwane.
“In 2016, I then moved into sunflower farming. I also have livestock like Bonsmara cattle that led me to win the Agricultural Research Council KYD provincial and national award in 2023,” he said.
In the same year funding from the Rural Development and Land Reform Department’s Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy was approved.
Sadiki now has five permanent employees and 75 temporary workers.
He told Vutivi News that Thabazimbi was a good place to farm sunflowers.
“It falls under the grain belt with very good soil suitable for sunflower and its good annual rainfall,” said the farmer.
A sunflower takes 120 days from planting to harvesting.
“Planting season starts from November until early March and harvesting is from April until July,” he said.
“I have enough implements to fully operate the farm. I was very fortunate to receive Land Development Support Funding in 2019/2020 financial year which assisted me in infrastructure, production inputs and implements.
“I have also invested millions from my pocket to procure additional implements like combine harvester, tractors, trailers, boom sprayer, a five-ton truck, planter, tiller, four bakkies and other tools that are used daily in the farm,” said Sadiki.
Sunflower farming is not without its challenges.
Sadiki deals with drought, hail damage, floods, guinea fowl and other bird species.
“Sometimes it is worms that eat leaves, and you must get an aeroplane to spray them. This reduces pest damage, but the implementation is costly,” he said.
Sadiki has been training unemployed graduates since 2009 through internships offered by the department.
According to Grain SA, annual sunflower production is between 500,000 tons and 700,000 tons.
