An innovative sunflower competition on the Springbok Plain is quickly developing into a large-scale community project that raises money for rural safety. (Photo: Reint Dykema)
What initially started as an agricultural initiative quickly gained attention and is now a much larger project aimed at strengthening rural security.
A sunflower competition, which is largely sponsored by CEOCO, a producer of crude sunflower oil, was launched earlier this year by farmers’ associations on the Springbok plain in Limpopo.
So far, 41 farmers have already entered 58 ha of sunflowers. The competition is judged on the yield per hectare, measured by a combination of tonnage and oil content.
However, according to Floris Booysen jr., chairman of the farmers association, it is about more than just volume. “You can harvest fewer tonnes, but with a higher oil content still generate the same or better income.”
The income from the competition is used directly to improve safety in the community. According to Booysen, the aim is to purchase a patrol van and use the rest of the money for security cameras.
Participants enter per hectare, after which a facilitator supervises the stripping process. The sunflowers are unloaded at the silos of VKB, an agricultural enterprise, where they are assessed. Meanwhile, farmers share knowledge and practices with each other, which helps to build up a valuable database on efficient cultivation methods. An independent observer handles the harvest samples to ensure transparency.
(Photo: Reint Dykema)
At the heart of the project is its fundraising model. Income from the sale of the trial blocks’ crops is paid to local farmers’ associations and invested directly in security – including cameras, patrol vehicles, communication systems and even drones.
According to Booysen, this equipment is extremely expensive. “One camera pole can cost as much as R125 000,” he says, and tells that farmers’ associations cannot afford it from membership fees alone. The project therefore relies heavily on sponsors and contributions from the community.
The competition already enjoys strong support from seed companies such as Agricol, Syngenta and Panar, who together with other sponsors make financial contributions, as well as make inputs, equipment and prizes available.
Role players in the agricultural industry, including New Holland Modimolle, Landini Bela-Bela and TTS (Massey Ferguson) Polokwane, have also already confirmed their support, while Van Zyl Staalwerke is donating wagons for the transport and handling of the crops entered for the competition.
Crime drops noticeably
Booysen says that the investment in safety already looks positive. In certain parts of the Springbok Plain, crime levels have fallen drastically, with some areas not reporting any burglaries since November 2025 – where previously there were an average of five per month.
“If we as farmers do not keep our area safe ourselves, we will simply not be able to farm at some point if we and our goods cannot be safe,” says Booysen.
Cameras and patrols have also helped track down stolen vehicles and arrest suspects in serious crimes.
The competition, which concludes on 4 September with a prize-giving in Roedtan, already enjoys broad support from numerous agricultural districts.
Ultimately, the initiative shows how farmers themselves create practical solutions where they are urgently needed. “It’s not just about the best harvest, but about the ability to build a safe and sustainable rural environment,” says Booysen.