Western Cape Female Farmer Wins Award

Minister Lulu Xingwana and Jeanne Groenewald with the award

The Western Cape is extremely proud of our latest award winning Female Farmer. Jeanne Groenewald, who farms with Free Range Chickens in the Grabouw area, has won the title of National Female Farmer of the Year in the category for Female Farmers who produce for the National market.

She won the title from eight other contestants who represented their respective provinces.

It is wonderful to know that we have a lady here in our midst who has shown that women can make a success in Agriculture through hard work and perseverance. I believe that Jeanne is a role model to her piers, not only with her achievement as a top producer, but also for the impact she has made on people around her. She has already changed the lives and empowered people from the previously disadvantaged communities whom she has set up in their own business ventures in the chicken industry.

President Mbeki has indicated on various occasions that he and the government places a very high premium on the acknowledgement of the role that women should play in all the sectors in every day life in South Africa.

Just as in every other aspect of life, the role and contribution of women in agriculture needs to be recognized and valued and therefore this competition has a two folded goal, namely to acknowledge the growing contribution of woman to agriculture and therefore the economy and secondly as an awareness campaign that agriculture is not only for men with calloused hands but that there are more and more women who are becoming successful farmers.

On behalf of the Government and the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape we want to congratulate Jeanne with this achievement. I believe that it is only the start for her and that we can expect much greater things from her in the future.

The National Female Farmer Award Ceremony took place in Durban on Saturday 26 August 2006 and was hosted by Ms Lulu Xingwana, the National Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs. The Western Cape was also represented by Female Farmers in three other categories.

Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za