Ms Alet Cloete of DieStelet Trust was voted one of the best in export in the province during the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) awards ceremony recently held at Graceland in Secunda, which was attended by Mpumalanga MEC, M.A. Gamede
Ms Cloete representing the Gert Sibande Region, Msukaligwa Municipality came second in the Top Entrepreneur Export Market where she won a trophy, recognition certificate and a R35 000 cash prize.
The awards are aimed at recognising the role played by women in agriculture.
The competition was initiated by the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
DieStelet Trust operates on a large scale, dealing with both livestock and maize seed production for export. The business has managed to establish working relations with neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Angola.
Maize is produced on 500 ha of the farm Holbank with a return of 600 tons of maize seed per season. DieStelet Trust has been exporting maize seed to neighbouring countries for the past 14 years .
When the company began exporting, it could manage only 200 tons of maize, but is now able to produce 600 tons for export.
DieStelet also invests in human capital development where new employees are taken through an induction course and taught how to operate farm machinery.
All the tractor drivers have been to a tractor course to equip them with the necessary skills and techniques.
The farm workers are also allocated land where they are allowed to build their houses and keep their cattle that graze freely in the provided camps. They are also provided with funeral assistance with groceries, sheep and coffins.
DieStelet Trust has also contributed to community development by assisting a crèche in Davel with tables and chairs and is donating money and clothes in Ermelo.
The company is also looking after four orphaned children who lost their parents who were working on the farm.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Cloete told MEC Gamede and the audience that she was grateful and proud to have represented her district and local municipality well in the awards and encouraged everyone to work hard.
“This is the reward for my hard word and living proof that hard work pays off,” said an emotional Ms Cloete as she received her prizes.
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