Rural development at the heart of it all
A PASSION for farming and growing his community is rooted in agronomist James Lonsdale.
The farmer from Underberg, who has retired and lives in Durban North, continues to share his knowledge and skills and wants to continue helping others in the agriculture sector.
Over the years, the 80-year-old has inspired other farmers to be good neighbours, learn about finances and enter commercial farming. He has written several papers on rural development for the SA Society for Agricultural Extension and one for the United Nations Poverty Relief Annual Congress.
Lonsdale’s love for farming stems from having grown up on his cousin’s farm. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in agriculture and spent many years doing research, but has a passion for the practical application of technology and worked as an assistant agricultural manager for Tongaat Hulett where he learnt much about farming.
This enabled him to get a farm allocated by the state which he farmed for 18 years before handing it over to his son, Mark Lonsdale.
During this period he started helping emerging farmers by carting their cane to the mill, which his son still does.
Lonsdale also saw the need for these emerging farmers to develop and took a post with the Agricultural Development Support Systems in the Agriculture Department so he could learn about land reform. He is this week’s unsung hero.
Lonsdale retired in 2004 and became a consultant, drawing up business plans for government and emerging farmers’ projects.
While farming, he also started a community bank in Mfekayi near the Hluhluwe river.
The idea behind the bank was that growers cut only one field a year and paid off their debts and deposited their funds in the bank and earned interest.
The money was then lent to others in the area who were charged interest. The bank became successful when teachers at a school were robbed of the school fees and it was decided that the fees should be paid to the bank which could then pay interest and lend out the money.
A highlight of his career was when they achieved moderate success with a land reform project by ensuring good timing of operations, and deposited money in a bank account for emergencies.
Lonsdale said that the lessons learnt as a farmer, such as financial literacy and ubuntu, were what he wished to share with future farmers.
“I have a loving wife, Gill, who is very supportive of me. She is a nursing sister who is still working as a nurse. I also have a loving son and daughter, Sharon Wilkinson, as well as grandchildren,” he said.
Lonsdale said he wished emerging farmers would have the opportunity he had had and technical and financial support.
“They should learn to keep accounts, and learn the importance of timing operations and overcome ‘learned hopelessness’ and believe they can achieve their agricultural goals.
“However, I will rather look at the main causes of failure in the land reform/food security programme and offer solutions,” he said.
Lonsdale is proud that the Underberg Farmers’ Association, the Upper Midlands Transition Initiative and Harry Gwala Agric had maintained sustainable projects.
“I have done a business plan for a pilot project to train and encourage communities to produce food on vacant municipal or other land. The difference between this and other projects is it is based on harvesting run-off water.
“However, I have been unable to find an NPO to apply for use of the land - erf 101 in Umgeni Park. If there are any interested parties they can email me at gilllonsdale2@gmail.com,” Lonsdale said.
Sunday Tribune
