This is a YouTube video titled "John Deere Africa | Giel Wilson" featuring Gil Wilson, a farmer from Pokwani Municipality in Northern Cape, South Africa. In this video, Gil shares his personal farming journey, the challenges he faces such as soil salinization and nematodes, and how support from St. Verse has helped him with resources and mentorship. He expresses his aspiration to become a commercial farmer and discusses the difficulties and hopes in farming in South Africa. The content is a monologue or testimonial rather than a conversation.
My name is Gil Wilson. I'm farming in Pokwani Municipality in Northern Cape. I'm farming word maize, wheat and pecan nuts. My mother, my father was working on a farm. So they raised me on the farm. And then I grew up liking to become a farmer one day. And really it happens today I'm a farmer. There is a difference. St. Verse has started to help me. I met with St. Verse because of the challenges of my soil is where St. Vers comes in. St. Verse assisted me with labor payments, electricity bills and also the challenges that I've got like herbicides. And then I got a salization problem in the past. So they bought me a gypsum to apply on the field so that we improve on our next crop. So they really assist me. And then we had another challenges of the nematodes on my field. So I didn't produce well with my previous crop. So then they assist me with pesticides to apply for those nematodes. So those were the challenges that I really can't afford. But St. Vest Pitch Inn is where they helped me because our dream is one. When they approached me, they said, wilson, we want to see you becoming a commercial farmer on upcoming years. My first dream, I want to see myself as a commercial farmer. When we're talking about commercial farmer. Today I'm plowing on 37 hectares. I'm looking forward for 100, 150 upwards as a commercial farmer. That's my dream is where I want to be one day. Then I ask myself, why, how will they assist me? But really I see. And if I work with them, it's true, I will one day become a commercial farmer. And then they also give me an mentor. I've got someone who I'm working with from St. Verse as my mentor, Mr. Fossey. So all those are from St. Verse. So yes, there is future for farmers in South Africa. It's not an easy game, it's not an easy business. Farming is very difficult. It's like a football game. So sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's got its own challenges, so it will depend who is working on the land. But if our vision is one, then yes, we can take our land forward in agriculture. So I say thanks and yes, I'm looking forward to work with you and so on.
