The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is pinning its hopes on the three women managed agricultural projects and the winner of the best Female Worker category, to bring home a national award. These winners will be representing the province at the national DAFF Female Entrepreneur Awards ceremony to be held at St Georges Hotel in Kempton Park, Gauteng Province on Friday, 23 August 2013.
The projects, Thojane Organic Farming from Bojanala District and Barui-Driehoek Co-operative from Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, scooped the Subsistence Producer and Commercial markets categories respectively, during the Provincial DAFF Female Entrepreneur Awards ceremony held last week Friday in Mmabatho.
Chaneng Farming and Primary Co-operative from Bojanala District which grabbed the Small-holder category, was also announced as the overall competition winner in the North West Province, and took home a total of R125 000 in cash and project infrastructure support valued at R1 million.
These projects will be joined by Ms Abea Phakoe from Ngaka Modiri Molema District who was declared the best Female Worker in the agricultural sector. In wishing them luck in the last leg of the competition, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono, said it is through these women’s entrepreneurial vigour, determination and their passion for agriculture, that they have made it thus far.
“We are proud to be associated with women such as these ones who share government’s vision on the promotion of household food security and economic growth, as it is through their hard work that the nation’s ability to feed itself can be realised,” remarked MEC Mohono.
The competition which is in its 14th year, is a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Total SA. The programme was conceptualised to encourage and increase the participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in the sector.
The Minister for Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson will announce national winners on Friday, 23 August 2013.
Contact person:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Cell: 082 901 2435 or 018 389 5719
Email: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za or mohlakoana.bonolo@gmail.com
