At just 28 years old, Eastern Cape farmer Siphesihle Kwetana has won the provincial commercial category of best female farmer of the year, walking away with R320 000 in winnings.
The Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reform’s Women Entrepreneur Awards recognise women who are involved in various capacities in the agricultural sectory.
Kwetana, who is a commercial livestock farmer, said it was a dream come true since she’s only been farming for less than five years.
Honouring women in the sector
“The prize money will be used for staff salaries, assisting with the buying equipment for the butchery that I have built and assisting in the aquaculture project that I am going to be embarking on.
“Right now, I am still doing research and groundwork on the popular fish species so that I can proceed with fish farming,” she said.
Kwetana runs an agricultural enterprise in Mthatha where she has a piggery, farms poultry and vegetables, and sells seeds. Her market is retail stores in her area.
Dabula puts disability aside
The MEC special award was won by Kholiswa Dabula, a partially blind farmer who, according to the department, survived a gruesome attack in the Western Cape which damaged her eyes.
Despite being partially blind, Dabula did not let her sudden disability stand in her way, she started planting spinach in her backyard and would sell it when she had a surplus.
Agriculture MEC Nonkqubela Pieters congratulated all the winners and urged them to continue being at the forefront of producing food for the nation despite the many challenges they are confronted with.
She said the department was committed to supporting women farmers and funding the nominees that participated in the women entrepreneur awards at the district level for this current financial year.
Gauteng honours its finest
Meanwhile in Gauteng, the department of agriculture, rural development and social development also held its awards ceremony for women.
The MEC Mbali Hlophe said it was important that the government stands behind women in the farming sector.
“A country in transition, a country in progress needs its women to stand up and be counted. There are stories of many women in the sector who contribute to the pillars that hold families together.
“Those who build communities and contribute to the country indeed have a good story to tell. It is these stories detailing years of hard work that form the cornerstone of our women entrepreneur awards,” she said.
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