The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cordially invite the media houses to witness the honouring of Eastern Cape women who are working tirelessly to ensure that they participate in the economic development, food security, entrepreneur development and job creation through agricultural and fishery programmes.
Since inception in 1999, with the aim of encouraging and increasing the participation of women in agriculture through backyard and large–scale production, the annual Female Farmer of the Year Awards became an empowerment platform that recognises entrepreneurial skills of women in agriculture.
The competition celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and its review has shown that entrepreneurial innovation of female farmers and courage to venture into previously male dominated agricultural activities has been one of the major milestones achieved.
The Eastern Cape is proud to have set the record by producing the youngest overall National Female Farmer of the Year when Bongiwe Kali at the age of 27 took the honours in 2008 for her innovative poultry project in her home village Ntsheshe in Ngqamakhwe.
Whilst the previous years provincial winners were Zisiwe Kato for Export Category, Zenzele Group for Household Communal Garden, Mrs Randall with Masithembane Poultry Group jointly won informal market category, Nosipho Lilian Nduzulwana took the National Markets Category and Thembeni Home Vegetable and Fruit Production for Household Backyard Garden.
Following the review it was agreed that the completion should take into account the extended mandate of the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the name should be changed to Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
For the first time, the competition will feature a category of Best Female Worker Award which is a huge step in government’s endeavours of improving the lives of farm workers and dwellers .
Other categories include best subsistance producer, top young entrepreuner, top entrepreneur: smallholder, top entrepreneur : commercial and top entrepreneur: export markets.
The event will honour women and also showcase their capabilities in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sector and members of the media are again invited to witness this august event themed: “Working together for equal opportunities and progress for all women”.
Details of the event:
Date: 5 August 2010
Venue: Pick ‘n Pay Building, Bhisho
Time: 18h30 for 19h00
Enquiries:
Thozi Manyisana
Cell: 073 2633 754
For more information contact:
Yvonne Matsheketwa
Cell: 076 868 7257
