19 Sep 2022

Renowned master farmer, pastor, jack of all trades and friend to all Mr John Phirinyane has been described as exemplary for humanity.

Mr Phirinyane is a recipient of The Presidential Certificate of Honour in recognition of his immense contribution to farming.

Speaking during a funeral service in honour of Mr Phirinyane over the weekend, Minister of Transport and Public Works Mr Eric Molale representing President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi relayed a message of commiseration from the President, who implored the family to look upon God during these trying times.

Mr Molale said Mr Phirinyane was a diligent person who always strove for excellence.

He said the late Phirinyane served the nation wholeheartedly and contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the country in numerous ways and advocated for the agricultural sector to soar.

Relaying how Mosisedi farms started, with priority for allocation given to whites given their farming prowess, Mr Molale argued that Batswana were equally competent thus deserving a chance to be given an opportunity to prove themselves, and Mr Phirinyane did not disappoint in that regard.

He said the deceased was a blessing to Mosisedi farming block who brought solutions to a lot of challenges in the area.

A friend, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, former Minister of Agriculture and also a master farmer, concurred that the deceased served the nation wholeheartedly and achieved great milestones.

He said his friend devoted his time and invested a lot in the development of agriculture, arguing as a master farmer his friend was blessed with a lot of traits that made it easier for him to prevail challenges in the industry.

Mr Thebe Phirinyane said his father juggled farming and giving his children love well.

He said he taught them to extend love to everybody, more especially the elderly and ordinary people.

He is of the view that farming skills and knowledge that he imparted to his children would benefit them profoundly.

He said the skills transfer initiative by his father saw them visiting cattle posts and ploughing fields to learn practical farming skills that would help them to break barriers in life.

He said his father shunned laziness at all costs, loved all positive things and treated people equally.

He described his late father as an outspoken leader who played an active role in ensuring that there was peace and unity in the village, thus imparting leadership prowess to his children.  

Daughter Ms Nametso Raditladi, said her father taught them business skills, taught them that hands and skills could earn them a living.

She admired her father who was a staunch member of The Zion Christian Church (ZCC), adding he taught them to have total confidence and trust in God for everything they needed.

She said he taught them humbleness and generosity.

Southern District Agricultural Coordinator in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Monia Mfolwe conveyed Minister Fidelis Molao’s commiseration message, who expressed sadness to learn of the demise.

The message said the master farmer who cultivated over 800 hectares at Mosisedi farms mentored a lot of farmers and transformed emerging ones into master farmers because he believed in information sharing, and his knowledge in farming benefitted Batswana beyond the Mosisedi farming block.

The minister said he contributed a lot to national grain production and his demise left a gap in food security.

Ms Mfolwe described the late Mr Phirinyane as a blessing from God because his success benefited the nation at large.

She said he was wise because he believed in God, adding his farming prowess made him to gain trust from ministry officials.

Ms Mfolwe said though blessed with so much skills and knowledge in agriculture, he was a humble man.

She described him as a reference point and benchmarking model in agriculture, adding he did not practice remote-control farming system as he stayed at the farm full time.

Ms Mfolwe said he was a mentor even to Ministry of Agriculture officials.

She said he believed in taking risks to breakthrough in the industry, adding he harvested horticultural produce annually without fail.

Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) representative, Mr Kabelo Lerothodi said the organisation had  lost a great man whom they first met at Bakwenyane farms, where he started his journey in farming and contributed significantly to food security.

He said he produced quality agricultural products that made him a benchmarking model as he did not focus only on mass production, but also on quality.

Mr Lerothodi said the late contributed significantly to job creation and implored children to emulate their father so to maintain what he was doing to feed the nation.

Mr Peter Badenhorst of Ramogomana farms, also a master farmer, said he admired the late’s farming prowess.

He said Mr Phirinyane was exemplary in farming and won his heart through his dedication and passion to the agricultural sector.

Mr Badenhorst said through Mr Phirinyane’s mentoring he was assured that he would achieve the results a commercial farmer would expect.

The late was that commercial farmer who was never deterred by threats and challenges that could have easily swayed his career as a commercial farmer, he said.

Mr Phirinyane, who died on September 9 at the age of 76, is survived by his wife Gothatamang, four children, 10 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, four siblings, two daughters in-law and two sons in-law. ENDS