THE Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development hosted the 20th edition of the Female Entrepreneur Awards during women’s month in the Joe Gqabi District.
The awards done in partnership with Standard Bank and Old Mutual are held to celebrate the achievements of women in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. In her welcoming address on behalf of Joe Gqabi District Mayor, Cllr. Vangiwe Hokwana said, “It is my pleasure and honour to welcome everyone present today, especially women who unselfishly commit their time and energy to invest in their respective communities”.
Hokwana further appreciated the role of ‘iimbokodo’ in the fight against social ills faced by local communities, starting in their households. She further acknowledged the role of the sponsors in making sure the event is a success.
Representing Standard Bank, Yandisa Ngcaba said: “I am proud to be part of this event and to be associated with this programme; I further challenge women in Agriculture to take time and visit our branches and apply for funding”.
Recognising and paying homage to the support, she received from DRDAR in uplifting women in farming; farmer Zoliwe Nombewu, from Mhlontlo Local Municipality within the OR Tambo District, said “Today I am a woman who is able to take care of her family because of farming. I have recently completed fencing 135 hectares of my land through assistance from DRDAR”.
DRDAR has and continues to give dignity back to women like me in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. I will soon be jetting off to the Ivory Coast, to learn more about best practices in farming, this is all because of DRDAR”, added Nombewu.
“I want to say to the women here today, let us uplift one another. Let us not be agents of ‘women on women hate’.We should be there to develop one another”, concluded Nombewu. Nombewu won in the Best Smallholder category during FEA 2018.
Categories awarded on the night included Best Female Worker; Best Subsistence Producer, Top entrepreneurin the following sectors: Smallholder, Commercial, Processing. As well as best organised district event, best performing district and finally Overall Winner for 2019.
Taking home, a whooping R250 000 00 cash prize and crowned 2019 overall winner is Patricia Betsha from Bafazi Phambili Poultry Project in Sarah Baartman District.