Cape Town - The Western Cape’s minister of economic opportunities on Wednesday launched the 2015 Farmworker of the Year competition, which he said was “aimed at honouring excellence in the sector”.
Alan Winde said he believed that the province’s hardworking farmers needed to be celebrated and recognised.
“Like we celebrate the heroes of our sports fields, we need to celebrate the heroes of our economy,” he said. “Our agri-professionals play a vital role in ensuring that the produce delivered to our shelves, and to outlets across the world, is of a very high standard. They are helping us to grow this sector, and together, we are building a sustainable economic future.”
The Western Cape 2015 Farmworker of the Year competition is co-sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Shoprite.
Jerome Thompson, a manager at a Kanonkop farm, beat over 1 000 entrants to win the 2014 Farmworker of the Year competition. And Thompson, who is scheduled to travel to France to meet and network with agribusinesses in the next few months, said: “Since I won the competition, residents in my area recognise me and people turn to me for advice. My goal is to start my own business. I also want to make a real difference in my area and would like to start a centre for development.”
There are 11 categories including irrigation specialist, agri-processing specialist and technical operator.
More than 6 000 farmworkers had entered the competition since 2002.
This year’s regional competition would take place in the following areas: Berg River, Breede Valley, Horsemanship, Durbanville, Elgin, Grabouw, Vyeboom, Villiersdorp, Franschhoek, Hexvallei, Klein Karoo, Koup, Langeberg, Olifants River, Overberg, Piket-Bo-Berg, Stellenbosch, Swartland and Witzenberg.
The competition’s first regional winner would be announced in July in the Witzenberg region, with the overall winner set to be announced in November.
ANA