TREE FARMER AWARD Mthondeni Heartwell Majola and RMJ Farming (PTY) Ltd were awarded the prestigious Tree Farmer of the Year awards in the Small Grower and Commercial Grower categories respectively. The award is in recognition of exceptional silvicultural practice, environmental management, and augmentation of operations. As any tree farmer knows, forestry comes with new challenges at every stage of the rotation. His clonal compartment subsequently began showing signs of stress, prompting NCT to engage with FABI in April 2024 to investigate the cause. SMALL SCALE TREE FARMER OF 2026 Mr Mthondeni Heartwell Majola’s forestry journey is one of perseverance, commitment and a willingness to embrace new knowledge and improved forestry practices. Since becoming an NCT member in March 2020, he has steadily developed his wattle plantations while navigating the many The initial wattle harvested from this compartment was sold to NCT, while the bark was supplied to NTE. The remaining stand, W04, was carefully thinned and managed with the support and advice of extension services before being harvested in 2025. NCT Member: 12 March 2020 – Present Homestead and wattle plantations, Matimatolo Tribal Area, Umvoti District Mthondeni Heartwell Majola challenges that come with small-scale tree farming. Mr Majola became involved in the wattle regeneration project in 2020, with his first wattle seedlings planted in January 2021. His first compartment, W01 (1.8 ha), marked the beginning of his forestry journey. In December 2021, Mr Majola took another important step by becoming one of the first farmers in the area to plant wattle clones, establishing W02 (1.7 ha). This demonstrated his willingness to embrace new planting material and explore opportunities to improve the productivity and quality of his plantations. Alongside his forestry activities, Mr Majola also maintains agricultural land. In 2021, he planted beans on his 0.2 ha agricultural plot, with aspirations of eventually establishing a high-quality avocado orchard. In February 2023, W03 (1.4 ha) was established using improved Ellepot wattle seedling material. Establishing this compartment was not without its challenges, as rabbits threatened the young seedlings during the early stages. Through perseverance, regular monitoring and careful management, Mr Majola successfully overcame the challenge and established a healthy stand. During the site assessment, the FABI team identified the presence of the Jewel beetle, Agrilus grandis, in the clonal wattle. Rather than being discouraged by the discovery, Mr Majola welcomed the involvement of FABI and ICFR researchers and openly supported research into the pest and its impacts on wattle. His willingness to make his plantation available for research has contributed to a greater understanding of Agrilus grandis and its management. The research ultimately resulted in the publication of an ICFR Technical Report in 2026, adding valuable knowledge to the forestry industry. Following the completion of the ICFR research trial, a decision was made to clear-fell the affected clonal compartment and establish a new crop using the latest rust-tolerant wattle clones. Once again, Mr Majola embraced the opportunity to start afresh, demonstrating the resilience and forward-thinking approach that has characterised his forestry journey. His dedication to forestry has also received recognition. In the lead-up to the Small-Scale Tree Farmer of the Year awards last year, Mr Majola and his wife were recognised as runners-up. Proudly wearing their newly awarded NCT jackets, the recognition was a reflection of the hard work and commitment they have invested in their farming operation. 5 4
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