Top Western Cape Female Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Crowned

The top female entrepreneurs in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Western Cape were recently crowned at an awards ceremony hosted by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. This was the 12th annual awards, which seeks to acknowledge, encourage and increase participation of women in these sectors.

The competition rewards the efforts and contribution of women in matters such as food security, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation. Over the years, it became an empowerment platform that recognised the entrepreneurial skills of women.

Gerrit van Rensburg, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, thanked all of the entrants for caring for their businesses: "Thank you for demonstrating your capacity to nurture. We urgently need more people like you to care for South Africa in order to build a better future for all our people."

"As winners, your task is now to take another woman by the hand, to mentor her and to empower her to reach the same level of competency that you have." This was the strong message that Ms Joyene Isaacs, Head of Department (Western Cape Department of Agriculture), left with the entrants.

Although the competition commences at provincial level, it culminates to a national competition held by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, where all of the provincial winners compete in different categories. An overall winner is also chosen at national level. This year, the national competition will be hosted by the Northern Cape on 23 March 2012 and all winners will travel to Kimberley to contend for the coveted awards.

The winners in the various categories were:

• Best Female Worker: Elize Meyer - Ceres.
• Top Entrepreneur Subsistence: Masiphile Peace Project - Khayelitsha.
• Top Entrepreneur Smallholder: Allie Gordon - Leeu-Gamka.
• Top Entrepreneur Processor: Doreen van Riel - Caledon.
• Top Entrepreneur Commercial: Jacky Goliath - Simondium.
• Top Entrepreneur Exporter: Adri Claassen - Hermanus.

Profiles of the winners are available on request.