business", MEC Jan Serfontein
7 December 2007
Klerksdorp: "My department is encouraged by your commitment because it says
you are prepared to travel this ambitious journey with us. With these awards we
are saying, keep up the good job and continue to proof that Agriculture is a
serious business." This is how MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment Mr Jan Serfontein motivated North West farmers who were awarded
during a ceremony held at Klerksdorp, Portuguese Hall on Friday, 7 December
2007.
About 48 farmers were nominated by the North West community to compete for
inaugural departmental annual awards, which are aimed at acknowledging and
honouring the hard work done by farmers in improving the economy of the
province through agriculture and conservation.
Out of the total number of entrants, only 12 farmers made the final end and
were awarded in four categories. MEC Jan Serfontein announced best provincial
farmers as follows:
Best livestock farmer: Mr Leburu Mphafudi
Best crop farmer: Mr Solomzi Booizene
Best game farmer: Ms Rodene Lambrecht
Best young farmer: Mr Carlo Peacock
Profile of winners:
Leburu Mphafudi of Leeukraal in Moretele, Bojanala District, chosen Best
Livestock Farmer, is an experienced producer who began farming in the mid
1960s. Even with the many challenges of that era, he continued to farm
successfully over the years, steadily improving to the present point where he
is today recognised as a dedicated Bonsmara stud bull breeder.
For Mr Solomzi Booizene, a crop farmer on Welverdien farm in Delareyville â
Ngaka Modiri Molema district, farming has been a way of life. His exposure to
farming from an early age endeared him to the discipline. The exceptional crop
farming skills that he exhibits are the results of the direct influence of his
father, who is also a crop farmer.
Ms Rodene Lambrecht has made it again. She was in 2006 declared National
Female Farmer winner for the Export Market category, and now she got the nod
for Best Game Farmer in the North West Province. Lambrecht's Geduld farm in the
Hartebeesfontein area is an enterprise which includes crocodile farming, which
she started four years ago. Establishing an export market for crocodile skin is
one of her achievements in the venture so far.
Carlo Peacock, the North West Best Young Farmer's Stroebelsrust farm in the
Setlagole area, includes a farming mixture of poultry, a piggery, sheep and
cattle. Despite knowing little about commercial farming, Peacock ventured into
the business by purchasing a farm measuring 900 hectares. Today he is a
successful farmer whom many young aspirant farmers can look up to for
inspiration.
MEC Jan Serfontein says these outstanding farmers reached the highest
echelons because of their determination. "We want to acknowledge that the
improvement in performance that the department has achieved in the last two
years could not have been possible without these farmers' support and advice.
The department also thanks them for always being there for emerging farmers and
are hopeful that this unconditional relationship will continue," expressed
Serfontein.
A representative of the judging panel, Mr Duncan Serapelwane, says the
position the panel took in choosing the best farmers was strict and fair. The
evaluation criteria among others included breed quality, size of the herd in
the case of livestock, land tenure, markets access and turnover. For the game
farmer category, our principal interest was in testing the level of
transformation occurring and we were pleased to see new entrants and much
innovation. As for the Young Farmer category, we looked again for innovation,
versatility, the ability to mobilise resources such as finance, technical
support applied in the enterprise and the identification of local and regional
markets for produce. The panel's overall impression was, however, that the
North West province has quality and committed farmers because most of the
winners never got any form of financial assistance from the department. They
did it on their own," said Mr Serapelwane.
Meanwhile, Mr RC du Plessis who demonstrated qualities of hard work,
diligence, and selfless contributions, became a winner in the category of Best
Performing Employee whilst the Chief Directorate Environmental Services romped
home with the Best Performing Team award.
"The message we are conveying with the presentation of these awards is that
we are now going forward. Our sector will never be the same again. We are from
now onwards going to ensure that we strive harder for excellence in performance
in our duties, in order to improve the economy through sustainable use of
natural resources," concluded MEC Serfontein.
Enquiries:
Ms Lesego Mncwango
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 389 5768
Cell: 078 459 5981
E-mail: Lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Ms Bonolo Mohlakoana
Media Relations
Tel: 018 389 5459
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, North
West Provincial Government
7 December 2007
