Opening Remarks by Premier T S P Makwetla at the 2007 National Female Farmer of the Year Awards
Emnotweni Arena

31 August 2007

Programme Director,

Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulu Xingwana,

MEC for Agriculture and Land Administration, Ms Dinah Pule,

Political and Traditional Leaders here present,

The farming community of South Africa and its distinguished leaders,

Government Officials,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

Let me take this opportunity to welcome all the guests and officials from the other eight provinces of our country who are gathered here today.  A special welcome to all the provincial winners of the female farmer awards who are here, especially those entered into the national category.  For all intents and purposes, you are all winners today because your efforts as farmers have caught the attention of the nation. 

Our experience suggests that these awards are unearthing talented individuals with the potential to achieve a lot in the agricultural industry and industry and even beyond.  Among these women nominees who are also here tonight, are those engaging in some of the challenging areas of agricultural enterprise such as organic farming.  It is for this reason that we have constituted the provincial and district structure known as Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD), to assist women in agriculture and elevate their projects to higher levels of performance.  We are confident that once they have overcome the many challenges along the way, the world markets will become theirs for the taking.

Program Director, ladies and gentlemen, we are particularly honoured to be hosting this august occasion of the National Female Farmer of the year awards, a year after one of our female farmers, Mrs Nghatsane won the award.  To show that these awards are not simply a token process of going through the motions but a genuine reflection of the talent amongst the women of our country, Ms Nghatsane went on to win the prestigious 2007 Shoprite Checkers–SABC2 Woman of the Year Award.  I am told that she is going to be addressing us today to inspire all of us to greater heights of achievement. 

We in Mpumalanga regard her as a role model to be emulated.  Her achievements, and the fact that we are hosting all of you tonight, make us feel like winners all over again, which, knowing the entrepreneurship and resilience of the women of our province is not a far fetched possibility tonight. 

As we meet on the last day of the month of women, there could not have been a more befitting way of honouring women than these awards.  Once again, welcome to Mpumalanga and relax and enjoy your stay here.

Thank you!

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government