Coastals Newsletter – Celebrating 80 Years of Farming, People & Community
As we celebrate 80 years of Coastals Farmers’ Co-operative, this edition of our newsletter takes a special look at the people, stories and milestones that have shaped our journey — through eight decades of changing times, challenging seasons and the resilience of KwaZulu-Natal’s farming community.
Our extensive 2026 AGM coverage reflects on a remarkable 80 years in the co-operative and agricultural industry, while looking ahead to the future. We honour Jono Chennels and his 40 years of dedicated service to Coastals, welcome our 2026/2027 Executive Directors, and celebrate staff members whose years of service and achievements continue to strengthen our organisation.
We also look beyond the present to explore The Sharma Legacy — a powerful story of determination, opportunity and generations of hard work. Discover how the family’s forefather arrived in South Africa as an indentured Indian labourer and how, through perseverance and vision, the family built a successful farming enterprise employing around 60 people.
For our farming readers, this edition also brings practical agricultural insight, including an informative article on smut in grain crops, how it spreads and what farmers can do to help contain it.
From our history and heritage to the people who make Coastals what it is today, this edition is a celebration of 80 years of agriculture, service, resilience and community.
Take a look inside and celebrate the Coastals story with us.