Step by step, sector has helped them along a pathway to ownership.
An eagerness to learn and work hard has paid off for two Indian brothers who arrived in New Zealand as youngsters with just a suitcase apiece.
Now, 14 years later, the pair have turned their dreams into reality.
Manoj Kumar and Sumit Kamoj have been hailed as prime examples of what can be achieved in the dairy industry through sheer hard work and not being afraid to take on new challenges.
“Winning the 2021 NZ Share Farmers of the Year title is a great illustration of their dedication,” Fonterra regional representative Adam Winter said.
The brothers are now the proud owners of a Fonterra supplying farm, milking 1200 cows on a 348 hectare property near Leeston in Canterbury.
Born and raised on a 10ha farm in a village in northern India, Kumar and Kamoj formed a love of the land and farming from an early age.
“We only had a few cows so we knew how to milk them and look after them but when we first came to NZ, dairying wasn’t really on our radar,” Kamoj said.
It was the opportunity to broaden their horizons that brought them to NZ where they first lived in Tauranga with Kumar studying horticulture and Kamoj studying business management.
“We were also working part time in some kiwifruit orchards and through that we used to see the local dairy farms.”
Wanting to know more about the NZ dairy industry, the pair turned to YouTube.
“Dairying here was completely different to back home, the scale, the practices, the size of the farms and the number of cows.”
That sparked a new passion and after finishing their studies, the brothers started working as farm assistants in Wairarapa.
“The farmer we worked for had three farms and after a year he offered us a contract milking position on one of them.
“After a couple of years that grew into a sharemilking role and when another opportunity came up in Eketāhunawe ended up working on four different farms, two as 50:50 sharemilkers and two as contract milkers.”
The brothers have a close bond, so the opportunity to work together has been invaluable.
“We’ve always wanted to stay together and we’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to do that in the farming roles we have had.”
The siblings’ dairying journey next took them to Ashburton where they started 50:50 sharemilking on a 530ha, 2100 cow property owned by Richard and Chrissie Wright.
The brothers and the Wrights have since set up their own sharemilking business, which enabled the brothers to purchase their farm.
“We could only afford a smaller farm, but Richard came up with the idea of our sharemilking business purchasing a larger farm and as we earn more money, we can buy them out.
“Through hard work and with a dream to chase, we have grown our business in the dairy industry and love every part of it.
“We are extremely proud that we are part of the best dairy industry in the world that produces the world’s best quality milk and looks after its animals and the environment.”
Being part of a strong co-op has helped them on their journey.
“We know that if we need any advice or help, it’s only a phone call away.”
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