Minister Barbara Hogan
Premier of the Free State Province
Deputy Minister Dr Pieter Mulder
Deputy Minister Dina Pule
Deputy Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu
MEC Mamiki Qabathe responsible for Agriculture here in Free State
Members of Executive Councils from the provinces responsible for agriculture
Councillors
Directors-General
Heads of departments
Our loyal sponsors Total South Africa in particular
Our 42 finalists
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Dumelang, sanibonani, goeienaand and good evening!
As we come to the end of Women’s Month, the prominent issue of the capability of women is brought into sharp focus. Unfortunately, while South Africa accepts that nothing can limit the capability and ability of women, some parts of the world place limitations through philosophical interpretations that a woman can only do so much; any excellence and going beyond stereotypical boundaries it is then argued strongly that it must be a man!
Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a young South African woman, who rattled the stereotypical cages of those who try to keep a woman from pushing the limits and achieving greatness. I ask then, that we should pause and listen to the resonance of the great musician, Caiphus Semenya, when long ago; he declared to the world that a woman has the right to be!
Programme Director, the South African vision for women equity is well articulated in detail in the National Policy Framework for Women Empowerment and Gender Equity. Precisely 11 years ago, the first stage for honouring women in agriculture was set. The event set a stage that aimed at empowering women by recognising their contribution to agriculture and increasing their visibility. Between 1999 and 2008, ten female farmers were recognised. In that time prizes were awarded, and last year alone, the total prize monies to the value of R3.7 million were awarded.
Over the years, the Female Farmer of the Year Awards has not only become a commemoration event, but also a pedestal to place women who till the ground with dedication, As we commemorate this event, it is probably the right moment to ask each other the painful questions. Questions that seek clarity within our conscience as to whether we certainly seek to empower women or pay lip service to the subject.
We need to confirm if our programmes are correctly tuned to impact on the need to engender equity and empowerment. For as long as we have had this event, it served its purpose. But now, we have to move on and change for the better and adapt accordingly to ensure that we not only survive, but create successful and prosperous industries in support of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
To start, the department has a new expanded mandate which broadens our policy and decision making beyond agriculture to include forestry and fisheries. We have recently completed a strategic planning session of the department where together with our state owned enterprises provincial departments of agriculture, have confirmed our new strategy and implementation mode. This then meant a relook at our strategies to ensure that the sectors command and claim their rightful place in the economy of this country and contribute positively into the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), targets farmers with relevant support instruments and pace itself within the limiting constraints.
Programme Director, we must, however, focus our attention on the crucial role played by subsistence, smallholder and commercial farmers. This segmentation will allow us space to understand the needs, through a relevant stakeholder engagement strategy. When the department understand the needs, it then will develop appropriate programmes and projects to respond to the needs. That then fulfils our service delivery obligation.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Female Farmer Award has drawn attention over the years to the existence of women in the sector that is dominated by male farmers, after a decade we should rather strive to target women within the three groupings and see to it that they graduate from subsistence to smallholder and ultimately commercial farming. We should celebrate women performing on par or above their male counterparts.
We need to tackle this fact that this is an aging sector, most farmers are old and thus the immediate need to train young farmers. The beginning should be to brand farming in such a way that it becomes attractive to the youth. We need to actively attract girl children to join this discipline, since there are opportunities for us to send students to Cuba for veterinary training, and also to train fish doctors.
Farming today has forward linkages across the value chain, hence operates like any other commercial business. We have to advance with time and see this campaign broader than female farmer but an expression of the role of women in the three sectors: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Therefore, this will be the last Female Farmer of the Year awards ceremony in the current format. Needless to say, we do not trivialise the opportunities created. From all the nominees for the 2009 Female Farmer of the Year, one will emerge with as the ultimate winner at the end.
Let us not forget to note that this event takes place during Women’s Month. It is, therefore, important to highlight that the Female Farmer of the Year campaign has become a brand through which the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) recognises women’s contribution to this country. Women continue to play a pivotal role in society. Certainly, farming is not for the faint-hearted. It is an occupation that requires immense perseverance, keenness and energy.
The night is upon us once again ladies and gentlemen. Behind all the glory and the fancy attires, lies a pool of sweat and hard labour from women continuously rebelling against the plight of starvation and vulnerability. The women who are standing as nominees tonight have displayed their ability to match up to the intricate nature and values of the business tradition. They have demonstrated innovation and creativity in improving existing farming systems.
Categories such as the top producer for export and national markets, as well as that of the informal markets, are characterised by a high and intensified criteria of adjudication. These women had to be evaluated against an endless list of business savvy and professionalism principles. Not much less can be said for the household consumption categories, both backyard gardens and communal gardens. Undeniably, they are all winners in their own right.
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, an active female farmer is a woman who is not reactive but rather proactive in her dealings. She must strive by all means to keep abreast of developments in respect of systems and be creative in her approaches. Farming is a business in its own right. It requires effective planning and management in terms of financial, human, and other tangible as well as non-tangible resources.
At this time, I wish to extend my appreciation to all those who have partnered with the DAFF in making this project a reality. Thank you Total SA for your support, your contribution has gone a long way and we can only hope that ours will be an enduring and successful relationship. Once again, my deepest appreciation to you all. Tonight the Free State Province is giving us the gifts so that every time we make use of them we can think about this province.
To the Premier of the Free State, Comrade Magashule, we thank you for welcoming us in your province. As I have mentioned previously; the Female Farmer of the Year campaign is a brand through which we endeavour to highlight the image of women in society. The spotlight is on the Free State this year and it is an opportunity for the agricultural women of this province to shine. The same goes for the rich culture at display tonight.
Programme Director, our eyes are now fixed on the next winner as we all anticipate who the successor of the 2008 Female Farmer will be. To all the 43 nominees, we wish you luck. You are all winners by making it this far and most important; you are winners because you are women and this is your month. May you continue in this struggle against poverty and hunger. Your efforts are most certainly making a difference, no matter how small these may be.
To all present here tonight, we can do more if we all work together. I wish you a memorable and most joyous evening.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
29 August 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (http://www.daff.gov.za)
