Cream of Limpopo’s female farmer crop
Dinah Denga (57) from Tatshilu Trading & Project in the Vhembe district was named Limpopo's Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the export market during the agriculture department's annual awards ceremony at the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Thursday evening.
POLOKWANE – Dinah Denga (57) from Tatshilu Trading & Project in the Vhembe district was named Limpopo’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the export market during the agriculture department’s annual awards ceremony at the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Thursday evening.
The awards ceremony, held under the theme, recognising the role of women and showcasing their contribution to Africa’s agriculture and food security, saw several dynamic women in agriculture acknow-ledged for their work.
Denga, who hails from Thohoyandou Block J went home with a cash prize of R60 000 as well as a certificate.
She started her project in 2000 on 25 hectares at Nwanedi near the Limpopo river. In 2010 she ventured into livestock production. She has 21 cattle and 41 goats. Her business records are up to date and she employs 15 permanent employees and 30 seasonal workers. She exports tomatoes to Mozambique and Zimbabwe while okra is sold to the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market.
“I have challenges such as resources, and the cash prize that I received from the department of agriculture will help me to purchase some of the agricultural equipment needed.
“My husband passed on in 2007 and I’m now a single parent with four children. Two of them are still at school, one is doing a degree in agriculture through Unisa, and the other is doing a B-Com at the University of Venda. Farming is very important and I’m surviving because of it,” said Denga.
Other awards that were handed out together with cash prizes included:
• Female Farmer of the Year – Christinah Rabothe from Waterberg.
• Subsistence Producer of the Year – Tsakani Elisa Hlungwani from Mopani.
• Top Entrepreneur in Processing – Maite Heyman from Mokgohlwa le Maite Florist in the Capricorn district.
• Top Entrepreneur in Smallholding – Raesetja Letta Kale from the Capricorn district.
• Top Entrepreneur, Commercial – Onica Kobe from Olifantspoort Farm in the Waterberg area.
• Best Female Farm Worker – Christinah Rabothe from Buffelskom Farm in the Waterberg area.
Agriculture MEC, Joy Matshoge said the annual awards were held with several objectives in mind.
These included mainstreaming all women including those with disabilities in the agricultural sector through food security, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation. Awarding (rewarding) the efforts and contribution of all women in agriculture was another objectives, she added.
“The biggest enemy is hunger, poverty and joblessness. Women are contributing more in food security but they are still deprived when it comes to acquiring land for agriculture,” she said.
