4 August 2006
Eurica Scholtz from Paarl, Jeanne Groenewald from Elgin, Wadea Jappie from
Schaapkraal in Philippie, the Masikhulisane Vegetable Project of Gugulethu and
Elza Jordaan of the Hex Valley was honoured as winners in the eighth Female
Farmer of the Year competition. With this competition, the national initiative
aims to celebrate women who make their mark in the previously male dominated
agricultural sector.
Eurica Scholtz, Top producer for Export Markets, farms with table grapes on
her farm, La Ferme Derik in Paarl. She produces 18 cultivars which are exported
to Europe, the Far East and Canada. Eurica has a natural talent to approach
challenges with innovative energy. Recently she has had great success with the
treatment of bacterial blight in her vineyards by administering medicine
usually prescribed for Parkinson disease patients. The harvest on this section
of the vineyards has increased by 30% and the vines are recovering from this
disease.
Jeanne Groenewald, Top Producer for National Markets, started her farming
enterprise with 100 chicks in her backyard in 1996. Today she supplies
Woolworths and Pick 'n Pay with free range, hormone free chickens under the
brand name Elgin Free Range Chickens. Jeanne's business grew so much that she
now contracts other grower farms to supply her with chickens and she employs
more than 150 people from the region as well as an additional 70 on the
farms.
Wadea Jappie, winner in the category Top Producer for Informal Markets,
bought a piece of land in Schaapkraal, Philippi, to give her children more
space to play. Today her 1 500 chickens, daily supplies more than 1 000 eggs to
various well-known restaurants in and around Cape Town. She has also planted
vegetables which are marketed at the local market.
The Masikhulisane Vegetable Production project in Gugulethu won as Top
Producers for Household Use. This groups dedication to the community and
especially those who has contracted the HIV/AIDS virus as well as those
suffering from tuberculosis (TB), make them worthy winners. They farm on only
600 m2 land but make a huge contribution in their community.
The Western Cape Department also added another category this year: Top
Contributor to Agriculture. This category is for those women who do not
necessarily farm but who make a noteworthy contribution to the promotion of
agriculture in the province. Minister Cobus Dowry awarded Elza Jordaan from De
Doorns for her contribution to the upliftment of farm workers. Elza initiated
the Farm Worker of the Year competition. This competition has empowered
numerous farm workers. According to Antonie Visagie, the previous winner, the
competition has narrowed the gap between farm worker and farm owner. "We
understand the role we have to play, right down to how our contribution fits in
with the profitability of the farm," he said.
The winners in the first four categories will compete in the national
competition for the South African crowns on 26 August in Durban.
Enquires:
Charlene Nieuwoudt
Communications Manager
Western Cape Department of Agriculture
Tel: (021) 808 5008
Fax: (021) 808 5000
Cell: 082 801 3841
E-mail: charlenen@elsenburg.com
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial Government
Tel: (021) 483 4930
Fax: (021) 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
4 August 2006
