The Future Farmers Foundation continues to empower young people with skills, opportunities, and confidence in agriculture. One of its participants, Gcinokwakhe Shoba, is placed at Shallowdrift Farm, under the African Conservation Trust, where he has been gaining valuable hands-on experience in vegetable farming.

Gcinokwakhe’s daily responsibilities are diverse and demanding. He plays a key role in operating and maintaining tractors, which includes soil preparation, ploughing, planting, and transporting both produce and equipment around the farm. His duties extend to making farm deliveries, driving staff and produce, and assisting with harvest supervision. As part of his role, he also helps with stock counting and record-keeping, ensuring that farm operations run smoothly.

The program has given him the chance to build strong practical knowledge in crop production and farm logistics. While one of his challenges has been adapting to long working hours and the pressure of balancing multiple tasks, Gcinokwakhe views this as an opportunity to strengthen his resilience and time management skills.

What excites him most is the potential of mechanised farming and how technology can make agriculture more efficient. The Future Farmers Foundation has not only given him exposure to real-world farming systems but has also encouraged him to explore his passion for farm machinery and operations.