4 August 2006
Female Farmers whom were awarded on 3 August 2006, in three different
categories obtained prizes and will represent the Eastern Cape province in the
National
Female Farmer Awards to be held in Durban on the 26th of August 2006.
The awards presentation was graced by the presence of the Eastern Cape
Premier Mrs Nosimo Balindlela, the MEC for Agriculture Gugile Nkwinti, the Head
of Department Advocate Nyondo, MPL Mtutshana and the sponsors of the programme
which were TOTAL, ABSA and Land Bank. Each winner went home with R20 000. The
award for Household Market was won by Mrs Nopasile Gqeku from Komga who has
been farming with a variety of vegetables and is preserving surplus vegetables
by freezing, drying and bottling them. She is not confined to vegetable
production only, but has fruit trees, rears fowls for both meat and eggs, and
is also running a piggery.
On the informal market is Masizame Garden Project chaired by Mrs Melthafa
situated at Grahamstown at Makana Municipality. The project consists of a group
which started in 1994. They started by producing vegetables as individuals in
different plots within the same boundaries but later worked as a group
producing vegetables for consumption and the surplus for sale. The project
employs temporary workers for fencing, fixing water pumps and to eradicate
weeds.
Ms Nomhle Makhawula from Bluemendal Farm located in Seaview Farms in East
London has won the award for National Markets. She is got a 66 hectare farm
with 10 hectares available for further tunnel development.
Tomatoes are currently produced in greenhouses measuring 10 x 30 m which
each hold 900 plants. The farm currently employs 12 workers and has three crops
in a two-year cycle. The produce is marketed at the fresh produce market in
Mdantsane.
This day will never be forgotten in the history of Eastern Cape.
Enquiries:
Fikile Black
Tel: (040) 609 3486
Cell: 082 578 1437
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
4 August 2006
Source: Eastern Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
