Earlier this year, one of the Imvothu Bubomi learning network members got a chance to participate in a project called the Female Entrepreneurship Awards. She emerged victorious, scooping third position in the subsistence garden category of the competition.

 
Mrs Peter of Amatole Basin in the Nkonkonbe District, was awarded a third prize worth R5000 as a means to inject back into her farming practice. She acknowledged her use of rainwater harvesting practices in her garden as a contributing factor to her victory in the competition.
The Female Entrepreneurship Awards project was initiated in 1999 by the then Department of Agriculture. The project looks at empowering women in agriculture by recognising their visibility and contributions in the field of agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Its main objective resonates with that of the Water Research Commission Amanzi for Food project which is trying to solve issues around food security with focus on women farmers.

 
There were 16 entries in the subsistence garden category of which Mrs Peter was among. Other categories in the competition, included, best female worker, best subsistence producer, top entrepreneur smallholder, top entrepreneurship processing, top entrepreneurship commercial, top entrepreneurship export markets, young female entrepreneurship, disabled female entrepreneurship. Female farmers in the various districts of the Eastern Cape submitted their profiles to their extension officers to enter this tough competition. Congratulations Mrs Peter!

 

By Chisala Lupele