August 16, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
WOMEN farmers swapped their overalls for evening dresses to attend a gala evening in their honour at Ubuntu Kraal in Soweto, on Tuesday, 15 August.
Hosted by the Department of Agriculture, the event paid tribute to women who have helped reduce poverty and create jobs by adding a feminine touch to the male-dominated agricultural sector.
Addressing a full-capacity crowd of 230 people, the majority of whom were women, the MEC for agriculture, conservation and environment, Khabisi Mosunkutu, said, "It is a pleasure to be amongst you [women] and to participate in an occasion that, as it is objective, is aimed at further contributing and embedding the liberation of the womenfolk of our country."
"We are here to celebrate women," added Mosunkutu.
The gala event took place 10 days before the announcement of winners of the 2006 Gauteng Provincial Female Farmer of the Year on the Thursday, 24 August.
Established in 1999, the Gauteng Female Farmer of the Year project is aimed at encouraging the participation of women in government projects, and has reached over 1 800 women farmers in Gauteng alone.
Gauteng Female Farmer of the Year for 2005, Ingrid Ditsebe, who entered under the category of Top Producer for Informal Markets, encouraged women to take part in the industry of agriculture.
MEC for Agriculture in Gauteng, Khabisi Mosunkutu
"Our MEC has opened doors for us as women to venture into the agricultural industry," she added, stressing the many opportunities that the industry has for women.
Since purchasing land in 2002 through the assistance of the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development funding, Ditsebe has obtained an orchard and plants vegetables and garlic which she sells to hawkers and urban farmers.
Entrant Glory Mafojane, representing the Thuthukane Food Garden Project of Protea North, said at the gala: "I hope other women take part in gardening, especially the youth."
Begun in 2005, Thuthukane Food Garden Project enabled learners to plant a variety of vegetables at Khuthala Primary School in Soweto.
"We hope to pass this heritage to the learners who in future might become leaders in the agricultural industry," said Mafojane.
Through the gardening project, Mafojane said they pay back the schoolchildren by giving them a plate of food each from the vegetables planted at the school garden.
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