Western Cape announces top female entrepreneurs in agriculture

7 Mar 2012

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 the entrants for caring for their businesses.

"We urgently need more people like you to care for South Africa in order to build a better future for all our people."

Take another woman's hand "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," was the message that Joyene Isaacs, head of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape 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 the provincial winners compete in the 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 and all winners will travel to Kimberley to contend for the coveted awards.

Elize Meyer from Ceres was the Best Female Worker, Allie Gordon from Leeu-Gamka the Top Entrepreneur Smallholder, Doreen van Riel from Caledon the Top Entrepreneur Processor, Jacky Goliath from Simondium the Top Entrepreneur Commercial, Adri Claassen from Hermanus the Top Entrepreneur Exporter while the Masiphile Peace Project in Khayelitsha was awarded the Top Entrepreneur Subsistence.