The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) will host the annual Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley, Northern Cape on Friday, 23 March 2012.
DAFF Female Entrepreneur Programme, a joint venture between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), and Total SA petroleum, seeks to acknowledge, encourage and increase participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector.
The female entrepreneur programme is aimed at rewarding the efforts and contribution of women, youth and people with disabilities in matters of food security, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation.
As food security is a huge global challenge, women are increasingly recognised for their crucial contributions in agriculture and rural enterprises in all developing country regions, as farmers, workers and entrepreneurs. South Africa is no exception. Worldwide women produce more than half of all the food that is grown, and in Africa it is 80 percent.
In recognising this role the department would like to invite journalists to be part of a site visit to three projects where women are at the forefront of food production. The projects are situated an hour's drive from Kimberley. The three projects include a 4 hectare farm where crop, cotton, and groundnuts are produced on a rotational basis.
The farm is owned, managed and worked by a 51 year old woman who started off in 2005 with a small food garden where she planted vegetables for own use. In addition to the 4 hectre farm she still runs an expanded garden from which she supplies vendors with produce and sells to the public from a roadside stall, next to the N18.
The other project is a vegetable garden involving four previously unemployed women. They are gardening on the premises of a school where they produce a variety of vegetables for the school feeding schemes in the area. Some produce is sold in the community to generate income to procure seeds and seedlings. The project is earmarked for expansion.
The third project involves a chicken farm where10 women have recently began their chicken business, with a capacity of about 10 000 chickens at a time.
All journalists are invited to be part of the site visit on the 23 March 2012. The Female Entrepreneur awards will be announced at an evening function on the same day.
Female entrepreneur project visitDate: Friday, 23 March 2012
Time: 9h00 - 14h00
Departure: 9 Elliot Street,
Female Entrepreneurs Awards Ceremony
Date: Friday, 23 March 2012
Venue: Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre Kimberley, Northern Cape
Time: 18h30 for 19h00
All journalists are invited.
Please RSVP by Monday, 19 March 2012 with:
Percy Sepaela
Tel: 012 319 6866
Cell: 078 800 2307
For further information please contact:
Selby Bokaba
Tel: 012 319 7948
Cell: 082 778 0245
