[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

3 September 2007

The Limpopo based Ditubatse Business Enterprise walked away with the 2007 Female Farmer of the Year Award. The enterprise is a partnership between Makgoro Mannya and Kgwadu Ramokgopa. The enterprise is the producer of atchaar which is exported to the neighbouring countries like Botswana, Madagascar and in Europe. Their business is making a turnover of more than R1,7 million per annum and employs 86 permanent and 40 seasonal employees. The enterprise also facilitates Adult Basic Education and Training (Abet) for their workers and the nearby community.

The following are the winners in the other categories:

* Top producer for export markets went to the Ditubatse Business Enterprise
* Top producer for national markets went to Sonja Ferreira of Western Cape whose business is in the goat farming and has made a value-add of cheese and yoghurt and ice cream
* Top producer for informal markets went to Nomathamsanqa Madliwa of the Eastern Cape who started a hydroponics project producing tomatoes
* Top producer for household use went to Isibonelo vegetable garden from KwaZulu-Natal, a group of women who produce a variety of vegetables. This group has also introduced the youth from their families to sustain the project.

The category winners walked away with R100 000 in addition to the R50 000 they won in the provincial leg of the event. The national overall winner walked away with an additional R50 000, totalling R200 000.

For further information contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Chief of Communications
Tel: 012 319 7317
Fax: 012 319 7858
Cell: 083 452 5743
E-mail: CDCoC@nda.agric.za

Issued by: Department of Agriculture
3 September 2007