21st Century Masstock?

[corkman2013]

Barfoots have a sweetcorn operation in Senegal

 

[Andrew_Ni]

Barfoots have a sweetcorn operation in Senegal

As well as Peru and Spain

 

[Lowland1]

I think if what had happened to them had happened to me here, I'd be off never to return but there's something about Africa that seems to get under the skin. Both families had been there 100+years before Mugabe gave them the boot, and one particularly was lucky to get out alive, his white farm manager was murdered.

Last month we had someone stay with us who is farming in Zimbabwe he is in his early 30’s and although his family lost their farm and moved to South Africa he says actually he remembers little about it as he was away at school. Growing up here makes people a lot tougher as you see so much more of life than in the UK. A lot of the farmers moved to other places in Africa that were even more dangerous than Zimbabwe like the Congo. In England you don’t come across death very often but out here it’s very common so it alters peoples perspective on life.

 

[Andrew_Ni]

Last month we had someone stay with us who is farming in Zimbabwe he is in his early 30’s and although his family lost their farm and moved to South Africa he says actually he remembers little about it as he was away at school. Growing up here makes people a lot tougher as you see so much more of life than in the UK. A lot of the farmers moved to other places in Africa that were even more dangerous than Zimbabwe like the Congo. In England you don’t come across death very often but out here it’s very common so it alters peoples perspective on life.

A hardy breed of farmer

 

[Wolds Beef]

@Lowland1 1 I would be no use, I can not stand the sun! allergic all my life to ultra violet light!! 2 I can remember Jody Schecter in a former life in F1 3 That ages me!!!
WB

 

[toquark]

Last month we had someone stay with us who is farming in Zimbabwe he is in his early 30’s and although his family lost their farm and moved to South Africa he says actually he remembers little about it as he was away at school. Growing up here makes people a lot tougher as you see so much more of life than in the UK. A lot of the farmers moved to other places in Africa that were even more dangerous than Zimbabwe like the Congo. In England you don’t come across death very often but out here it’s very common so it alters peoples perspective on life.

For sure, life’s cheaper in most places outside our cushy western bubble. Still, not sure if I’d be brave enough to give the Congo a whirl though!

 

[Lowland1]

For sure, life’s cheaper in most places outside our cushy western bubble. Still, not sure if I’d be brave enough to give the Congo a whirl though!

We know a South African here whose family come from a valley in southern Congo where there are about a dozen Afrikaner families. He showed me pictures it was the most beautiful place you could imagine, forests, dams, maize ten foot tall and grass knee high he said if we wanted to farm it we could then he told me of being shot at by the army and showed the bullet holes in his pickup. I still am quite keen though my wife not so. 30 odd years ago my Dad wanted to move to France and I didn’t want to go because it was foreign that was really stupid.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

My neighbour left in the 80s to farm in Tanzania but I'm not sure how he got on as he is a generation older than me. They only sold the farm here in NI in the last year. I lived on a farm on Namibia and really loved it, so simple no machinery, just wide open spaces and big pens/gathering yards and having several thousand cattle seemed normal. I've visited friends in Swaziland and I liked it even more, loved how green it was but not sure about large scale ag there.

 

[oil barron]

We know a South African here whose family come from a valley in southern Congo where there are about a dozen Afrikaner families. He showed me pictures it was the most beautiful place you could imagine, forests, dams, maize ten foot tall and grass knee high he said if we wanted to farm it we could then he told me of being shot at by the army and showed the bullet holes in his pickup. I still am quite keen though my wife not so. 30 odd years ago my Dad wanted to move to France and I didn’t want to go because it was foreign that was really stupid.

Afrikaners are a different breed. It wasn’t this guys first rodeo.

 

[goodevans]

I think the answer is no most of the companies operating in Egypt/Sudan/Saudi area are Arab companies and whilst they may hire a western manager all the other staff will be from Sudan,the Phillipines, Pakistan etc. . There is no need these days to have a white tractor driver there are lots of cheaper options. Almarai was run by an Irishman and his son but generally everyone else would be from the subcontinent. The farm we set up in Sudan is now managed totally by the Sudanese however it isn’t going too well.

I think he meant you !

 

[Lowland1]

Afrikaners are a different breed. It wasn’t this guys first rodeo.

I hope it ended well.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

The co pilot didn't even know what day it was

 

[oil barron]

I hope it ended well.

Yes, that guy is ex South African forces.
I don’t think I could farm like that, sleeping with one eye open.

 

[TBradbury]

Interesting reading what you guys have said, headed to Namibia on a motorbike in for January and February, kinda wondered if anyone knew of some interesting cropping farms to to look up, no till broad acre cereals etc? Thanks

 

[uztrac]

Interesting reading what you guys have said, headed to Namibia on a motorbike in for January and February, kinda wondered if anyone knew of some interesting cropping farms to to look up, no till broad acre cereals etc? Thanks

What route do you intend to take to reach Namibia ? east or west ?

 

[TBradbury]

What route do you intend to take to reach Namibia ? east or west ?

Honestly I haven’t just worked it out yet, got the flights booked but still planning it,

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Where are you flying into? I lived in Namibia for 2 years

 

[TBradbury]

Where are you flying into? I lived in Namibia for 2 years

Windhoek,

 

[Hooby Farmer]

From my experience namibia is mostly large scale livestock farming maybe not animal numbers but expansive. One of the places I was staying was 80,000 hectares but only had 1000 cattle 7000 sheep which is still pretty impressive. I don't actually remember seeing any cereal crops being grown, they possibly do more up north. Windhoek itself I found very westernised you could have been in any large city in Europe. North east on the caprivi strip is what I call 'real' Africa but less wildlife as they keep eating it. Sorry not much help really.

 

[TBradbury]

Nearly two years have gone by since I asked you, ended up working in Zambia and and then the Congo near lumumbashi, but haven’t been able to find a farm in Namibia! It was fantastic, friendly people, and the opportunity to give a lot back, more so encouraging the guys to think and challenging them, is there anyone you might be able to put me in contact?