Date: 06/08/2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: C Dowry: Female Farmer of the Year function
REMARKS BY COBUS DOWRY, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, AT THE FEMALE FARMER OF THE YEAR FUNCTION, Kanu, Stellenbosch, 6 August 2004
AGRICULTURE IS NOT A "MAN" THING
In celebrating 10 years of democracy, one cannot ignore the role of women during this first ten years. Even closer at home, we have to pay tribute to the role of women in Agriculture. We have to honour them for their contribution to the transformation and the growth of the agricultural industry in the Western Cape. The role of female farmers as resource providers and the creators of employment within the agricultural sector and the value chain of Agriculture are increasing on a daily basis.
The Female Farmer Competition aims to empower women in agriculture by recognising their contributions and increasing their visibility. The competition is divided into four categories, namely top exporter, top producer for national markets, top producer for informal markets and top producer for households. To be considered for the first category, at least 50% of all produce must be earmarked for the export market. Criteria for the second category entails that more than 50% must be produced for national distribution. Category three prescribes that a nominee should be able to support her household through the production of food and/or non-food products and be economically sustainable by selling some of her produce informally. The last category is for food gardeners and others who produce mainly for own use.
The Department of Agriculture also decided to expand its focus beyond the female farmers of the province to all women in agriculture, such as female farm workers, as well as the girl children of the province. Thus, the week of National Women's Day, 9 - 13 August 2003, has been named Agri Femina Week and is dedicated to the empowerment and encouragement of all women in agriculture.
On Wednesday, 11 August the Department, together with the Cape Women's Forum, will be presenting a programme to a group of 150 female farm workers from the various farms in the region.
On Thursday, 12 August, the Cape Institute for Agricultural Training: Elsenburg will be presenting a programme to a group of resource poor female farmers who has entered the 2004 Female Farmer Competition in the category for household use production. The focus of the course will be community development to empower them as role models in the communities where they live.
One of the challenges that the Department of Agriculture faces is the belief that agriculture is a man thing. This perception has discouraged women to consider agriculture as a possible career. For this reason 120 Grade 10 schoolgirls from Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain, Stellenbosch and Paarl are invited to experience the full spectrum of Agriculture (13 August) in order for them to be able to consider Agriculture as a worthy career option.
Die Departement is ook trots op sy eie bydrae om vroue in verskeie Voedselsekuriteitsprojekte gevestig te kry. Dit was dan ook vir ons aangenaam om sekere van hierdie suksesverhale tydens die departement se begrotings posbespreking, in die Parlement te ontvang. In Khayelitsa en Mitchells Plain het ons byvoorbeeld 3 Voedselsekuriteitsprojekte suksesvol van die grond af gekry waar daar 45 dames betrokke is en waar die departement R267 488.00 bestee het.
Die feit dat die Premier vanaand hier teenwoordig is, is 'n bewys van sy belangstelling in landbou as een van die hoofrolspelers in die skep van 'n "Tuiste vir almal" in die Wes-Kaap. Dit is ook 'n bewys van sy erkenning van die rol wat die vrou speel om te help bou aan hierdie tuiste. Van landbou se kant af wil ons vir u s* dat ons dit baie waardeer dat u te midde van u besige en vol program, ook vir ons 'n plekkie gemaak het. Die Premier was reeds vanoggend saam met ons in Clanwilliam by 'n ander funksie van die departement.
Dit is vir my 'n voorreg om Premier Rasool aan die woord te stel.
Enquiries: Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial Government
6 August 2004
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: C Dowry: Female Farmer of the Year function
REMARKS BY COBUS DOWRY, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, AT THE FEMALE FARMER OF THE YEAR FUNCTION, Kanu, Stellenbosch, 6 August 2004
AGRICULTURE IS NOT A "MAN" THING
In celebrating 10 years of democracy, one cannot ignore the role of women during this first ten years. Even closer at home, we have to pay tribute to the role of women in Agriculture. We have to honour them for their contribution to the transformation and the growth of the agricultural industry in the Western Cape. The role of female farmers as resource providers and the creators of employment within the agricultural sector and the value chain of Agriculture are increasing on a daily basis.
The Female Farmer Competition aims to empower women in agriculture by recognising their contributions and increasing their visibility. The competition is divided into four categories, namely top exporter, top producer for national markets, top producer for informal markets and top producer for households. To be considered for the first category, at least 50% of all produce must be earmarked for the export market. Criteria for the second category entails that more than 50% must be produced for national distribution. Category three prescribes that a nominee should be able to support her household through the production of food and/or non-food products and be economically sustainable by selling some of her produce informally. The last category is for food gardeners and others who produce mainly for own use.
The Department of Agriculture also decided to expand its focus beyond the female farmers of the province to all women in agriculture, such as female farm workers, as well as the girl children of the province. Thus, the week of National Women's Day, 9 - 13 August 2003, has been named Agri Femina Week and is dedicated to the empowerment and encouragement of all women in agriculture.
On Wednesday, 11 August the Department, together with the Cape Women's Forum, will be presenting a programme to a group of 150 female farm workers from the various farms in the region.
On Thursday, 12 August, the Cape Institute for Agricultural Training: Elsenburg will be presenting a programme to a group of resource poor female farmers who has entered the 2004 Female Farmer Competition in the category for household use production. The focus of the course will be community development to empower them as role models in the communities where they live.
One of the challenges that the Department of Agriculture faces is the belief that agriculture is a man thing. This perception has discouraged women to consider agriculture as a possible career. For this reason 120 Grade 10 schoolgirls from Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain, Stellenbosch and Paarl are invited to experience the full spectrum of Agriculture (13 August) in order for them to be able to consider Agriculture as a worthy career option.
Die Departement is ook trots op sy eie bydrae om vroue in verskeie Voedselsekuriteitsprojekte gevestig te kry. Dit was dan ook vir ons aangenaam om sekere van hierdie suksesverhale tydens die departement se begrotings posbespreking, in die Parlement te ontvang. In Khayelitsa en Mitchells Plain het ons byvoorbeeld 3 Voedselsekuriteitsprojekte suksesvol van die grond af gekry waar daar 45 dames betrokke is en waar die departement R267 488.00 bestee het.
Die feit dat die Premier vanaand hier teenwoordig is, is 'n bewys van sy belangstelling in landbou as een van die hoofrolspelers in die skep van 'n "Tuiste vir almal" in die Wes-Kaap. Dit is ook 'n bewys van sy erkenning van die rol wat die vrou speel om te help bou aan hierdie tuiste. Van landbou se kant af wil ons vir u s* dat ons dit baie waardeer dat u te midde van u besige en vol program, ook vir ons 'n plekkie gemaak het. Die Premier was reeds vanoggend saam met ons in Clanwilliam by 'n ander funksie van die departement.
Dit is vir my 'n voorreg om Premier Rasool aan die woord te stel.
Enquiries: Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial Government
6 August 2004
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