The MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development MEC Norman Shushu, and the staff would like to pass a message of appreciation to all the finalists of the National Female Farmer of the Year competition, especially our own Ms Maria Malan who scooped the award for top producer for informal Markets.
Ms Maria Malan started farming in 2001. She joined the emerging farmers' co-operation and bought two sheep and started farming on the municipal commonage in Carnavon. In 2007 she applied for the Livestock Improvement Programme (LIP) pilot programme of the department and the department issued her with 103 dorper ewes and five rams. She had her own contribution which was by then 100 ewes and five rams. She is currently at 248 livestock and yet she manages to sell three times a year and retains all the ewes for production purposes.
Maria Malan is farming individually and takes care of her animals on her own. With her passion for farming she is looking after her livestock personally. She has hired temporary workers to assist her when she is vaccinating or dosing. Extension services also advise her on a regular basis to ensure that the quality of her livestock is maintained and improved upon. Veterinary services have designed a vaccination programme for Ms Malan. She has also demonstrated her knowledge of good natural resources management by practicing rotational grazing.
Ms Malan is responsible for all the financial aspects of her farm. No formal bookkeeping is being done but she keeps written records of all her financial transaction on a monthly basis (income and expenditure) and the number of animals and off-springs on a weekly basis. She has not only managed to increase her number of livestock and good money sense, she purchased a bakkie to minimise transport costs.
Ms Malan is a member of Carnarvon Emerging Farmer Association. Her future ambition is to acquire a farm of her own and to become a commercial farmer in her own right.
As we conclude the celebrations of the Women's Month, this award could not have come at a better time, where we take the lead as a department, in ensuring the increased participation of women in agricultural sector.
Once more, the department, through the farmer support programme will continue to provide necessary support to the emerging farmers in the province, as land and agrarian reform, in ensuring that we close a gap between historically established commercial farmers and those that has been excluded in the industry.
