This enterprise was developed to assist the development of women in agriculture. MEC Mase Manopole spoke to OFM News’ Lee Simmons about their oversight visit…

Manopole says “the female-run enterprise is part of the government initiative to empower previously disadvantaged individuals, through the Land Reform and Agricultural Enterprise Development Programme".

“Our national department bought land for this group of people and ensured that they register them and that they are able to run this programme. Currently, it has employed 40 people in permanent jobs," adds Manopole.

She says that this initiative falls under the plans of the department and any time that women are interested to start and/or manage an agricultural enterprise, the government will assist the women by kick-starting the specific programme. She says that the department takes these women through training, and a step-by-step programme that informs and equips women about what is expected in their chosen enterprise. Manopole says that women have to apply in groups of five or more and once applications are submitted, the department will follow suit.

The success of this project roots from 2002 and since then major infrastructural, resource accumulation, and management developments have been made, explains Manopole.

She says that this enterprise has taught these women a fair amount of skills and that their farm has managed to become one of the few farms in all of the province that has an abattoir licence.

She ends by elaborating on how amazed he was to see that even the women who work in administration are equipped to manage the laborious farming process.

OFM News