The North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development reacted swiftly to reports which suggested that farmers who entered for this year’s Female Farmer of the Year competition are not the rightful owners of those projects, by thoroughly examining these farmers’ personal and project details last week.
The department can with certainty confirm that all farmers who submitted their entry forms, own and manage farms or projects as captured in their submissions.
“This proves that the report I received from the competition adjudicators, prior to those unproven allegations, was authentic and a true reflection of what they have evaluated,” confirmed MEC Boitumelo Tshwene.
MEC Tshwene says, however, that his decision to postpone the event was not meant to undermine or disrespect the adjudicators’ report “as they are renowned agricultural professionals who have participated in the competition adjudication process ever since the inception of this project”.
“I wish to extend my extreme gratefulness for their advice, diligent work and commitment to the project’s objective, in spite of the challenges which led to the postponement of the awarding ceremony”, adds MEC Tshwene.
MEC Tshwene says he could not on the same token, disregard allegations that his office received in regard to the competition entrants, without determining their legitimacy.
In passing his apology to the adjudicators and the competition entrants for postponing the ceremony, MEC Boitumelo Tshwene called these stakeholders to a meeting last week, during which confirmation on this state of affairs was tabled.
To ensure that the province meets the national Department of Agriculture deadline for submission of provincial winners’ profiles, which was last Wednesday, MEC Tshwene then released during that meeting, the winners’ results as initially approved; thereby securing the province’s participation in the national competition to be held this Saturday, 29 August in Free State.
Female farmers who will represent the province during this event are as follows:
* Top Producer National Markets: Jacoba Grey mixed farming
* Top Producer Informal Markets: Mogopa Vegetable
* Top Producer Household Use, communal gardens: Feranani Food Plot
* Top Producer Household Use, backyard garden: Malle Fresh Produce
Contact:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: +27 (18) 389-5346/5768
Fax: +27(18) 384-4571
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
24 August 2009
