Kwambo woman wins forestry award
Naddy Mbuyazi awarded in the farm managed on communal land category.
NCT Forestry crowned its first woman Tree Farmer of the Year.
Naddy Mbuyazi who hails from KwaMbonambi and Sheepwalk Estate, outside Harding, received this year’s coveted awards in tree farming.
The winners were recognised for their excellence in sustainable plantation management, which has earned them a place on the exclusive list of achievers in tree farming.
In the farm managed on communal land category, Mbuyazi became the first woman to receive this award from the co-operative.
She was introduced to forestry by her late husband, who she assisted with the supervision of one of the many teams they employed.
Her forestry interest progressively grew as she participated in forestry activities.
Most of the compartments she took over from her late husband were coppiced poorly.
Improvements
She improved her skills and received technical advice from NCT and cleared all the coppiced compartments to prepare for proper planted compartments.
Today Mbuyazi is the proud owner of 24ha of gum compartments which are planted to GxU and C.henryi species.
The operation was judged on general farm management and adherence to forestry standards in silviculture, harvesting, road construction and maintenance and environmental management.
She is a fine example of pure determination and good business skills and is worthy of being awarded this accolade.
Commercial winner
In the commercial category, Sheepwalk Estate, owned and managed by Kim Bouverie, outside Harding in southern KZN took top honours.
The estate is managed with exceptional silviculture practices, effective harvesting operations and good fire fighting capacities.
Each winner received a Stihl chainsaw sponsored by Stihl Pietermaritzburg and Pmb Power Products.
The NCT tree farmer of the year was initiated in 2002 and is awarded annually to tree farming operations that display excellence in sustainable plantation management.
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