RE: MEC ROOI NAMES NORTHERN CAPE’S BEST WOMEN FARMERS IN THE

        FEMALE FARMER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2003

 

The Northern Cape’s Female Farmer of the Year Competition was held in Kimberley amid pomp and ceremony on Friday 08th of August 2003. The distinguished award ceremony drew luminaries from all works of life. The prestigious event that had been sponsored by Standard Bank and Eskom’s Development Foundation signaled unqualified support for women in agriculture. Those in attendance included decision-makers from banking institutions, developmental corporations, agri-businesses and a large number of politicians.

 

The winners were declared in the following categories;

 

CATEGORY:  TOP PRODUCER FOR NATIONAL MARKETS

 

First Prize   : Carmen Du Plessis (R8 000, 00)

Runner Up  :  Eiland Project – Ikava Lethu

 

 

CATEGORY:  TOP PRODUCER FOR INFORMAL MARKETS

 

First Prize : Sarah Batsise (R8 000,00)

Runner Up:  Annah Peterse

 

CATEGORY: TOP PRODUCER FOR HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY      

 

First Prize : Eksteenskuil Food Garden Project (R8 000,00)

Runner Up: Bopanang Food Garden Project

 

CATEGORY: TOP EXPORTER   

 

First Prize: Evet Snyman (R8 000, 00)

Runner Up: No Runner up.

 

In his keynote address, Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation, MEC Dawid Rooi said the event celebrates the progressive life of our womenfolk in agriculture. “ Our prosperity is in the hands of these daughters of Africa who will add to the quality and quantity of Africa’s revolutionized agriculture,” said MEC Rooi.              

 

MEC Rooi flagged a number of model agricultural projects that have been implemented for the economic advancement of women since last year’s historic women in agriculture conference. He cited these two as those that the Department prides itself with; 

 

·        Allocation of 60 ha of state land to three Richie based women who are currently producing for national markets having attained three separate production loans from the Land Bank. The Department incurred a total expenditure of over R23 000 on input cost and upgrading of infrastructure.

·        Allocated 13 ha of state land to two female beneficiaries at the Department’s Upington Research Station. They have an expected gross of more than R130 000 for this season and have collected their second Land Bank production loan. The Department incurred a total expenditure of R35 000 on input costs.    

 

 

He added that the Department will be launching four women driven food security projects to the tune of R720 000 next month, namely;

 

·        Itireleng Poultry Project;

·        Nouport Sikhulule Project

·        Noupoort Vegetable Project and

·        Calvinia Chicken Project.

 

The Provincial Department of Land Reform will grant one of the Competition’s 2001 winners, Ms. Anna Eilers together with thirty other women of Wrenchville’s Klein Boere Vrou Vereniging near Kuruman 1310 ha through the LRAD programme.

 

MEC Rooi further added that the participants of the Female Farmer of the Year Competition should be adopted for mentorship by agriculture’s role players. He made reference to the Competitions winners of last year who have experienced a meteoric rise in their agricultural endevours;

 

·        Ms. Margaret Noge (Provincial President of Nafu) secured an LRAD grant to the tune of R75 000 for her poultry business, she will soon be moving from her backyard.

·        Sukkel en Bystaan secured irrigation infrastructure from the De Beers Group.    

 

This year’s provincial winners are expected to emulate the feat achieved by last year’s provincial winners in attaining 1st prize in Household Food Security (Sukkel en Bystaan Tuinbou Project, Lekkersing in Namaqualand) and 2nd  prize (Ms. Noge, Richie based poultry farmer) - Top Producer National Markets.

 

END.

 

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi e-mail: tmothibi@kim.agric.za 0832558840

Source: Dept Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation

 

EDITORS NOTES

      

Competition Background

 

The Female Farmer Competition is an instrument through which women’s contribution to the fight against poverty is being recognised and encouraged. The Competition acknowledges women as the lifeline of society and the custodians of household food security whose role is critical in improving the quality and quantity of agricultural products through improved delivery, innovation and excellence.

 

This initiative further seeks to: 

 

·        Lift the social, cultural and economic barriers that have subjected women to play a peripheral role in the sector,

·        Thwart the spectre of a decline in the Province’s agricultural sector’s growth by encouraging the entry of new farmers to ensure an improved food production,

·        Combat inequities by soliciting support from various quarters of the industry that would include, financial institutions and agricultural specialists, and

·        Enable women to have the same opportunities and access to resources.

 

In selecting the winners we focused on aspects such as entrepreneurial development, job creation and the management of agricultural resources for current and future generations.

 

Hence the winners would at all times display the following characteristics:  

 

·        Demonstrate a degree of innovation and creativity in improving existing farming systems with the responsible use of production inputs, and

·        Demonstrate a sense of innovation in financial management, created and retained employment opportunities