WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Viona Kapank, an agricultural entrepreneur from Haarlem in the Eden District, was named best subsistence producer in the Western Cape at the Western Cape Government's Female Entrepreneur Awards at a ceremony at Ashanti Estate in Paarl recently.
Ashley-Ann May from Latana Cheese, Oudtshoorn, won the Ministerial Award (Youth). May is responsible for the cheesemaking at Latana Cheese, a small cheese company manufacturing cheese in the traditional way. Her duties include management of the planning, making the cheese, to getting it ready for the market.
Kapank leads the Haarlem Vrouevereniging in a community garden project in Haarlem, tended by women farming with vegetables. The garden was started in 2013 by a group of unemployed women looking for a source of food security. They also donate to their community.
The two women were among the top group awarded at the function by Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities.
The other winners were:
- Best Female Worker - Lindelwa Mabuya from Abagold Abalone Farming, Hermanus
- Top Entrepreneur Smallholder - Anastasia Smith from Antastasia's Fresh Farm Produce, Atlantis
- Top Entrepreneur Processing - Essolita Poole from Hopefield Abattoi, Hopefield
- Top Entrepreneur Commercial - Caroline de Villiers from Themba Trees, Elgin
- The provincial winners will compete in the national event which is set to take place on 25 August in Polokwane.
The top women in agriculture in the Western Cape from left are: Essolita Poole, Ashleigh-Ann May, Viona Kapank, Anastasia Smith, Caroline de Villiers and Lindelwa Mabuya.
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