The Mahata Mmoho Agricultural Cooperative scooped awards in three categories, winning in the subsistence producer category as well as a special award granted by the MEC and winning in the young farmers’ category.
The awards, presented on 12 August, were hosted to celebrate outstanding contributions made by women in agriculture and the role they continue to play in their communities.
The women are beneficiaries of an EU funded project called Sustainable use of natural resources to improve climate change resilience in South Africa, implemented by Earthlife Africa JHB in partnership with Oxfam, at Motsewapele Primary School in Evaton.
The women have been trained on sustainable agricultural practices to enable them to start and manage food gardens to support the feeding scheme programme at Motsewapele Primary School, feed their families and earn extra income from the sale of the crops.
“This award has made us realise that we’re doing something right, said Lindi Nzwana member of the cooperative and Women Energy and Climate Change Forum.
“We are encouraged to keep up our good work and put more effort into our project,” said Nzwana.
“The awards serve as proof that hard work pays off and our efforts have been recognised,” said Thembelihle Dlamini another member of the cooperative.
The women have also expressed how they have benefited from the project and the impact it has made into their lives.
“We are very grateful for the project; it has taught a lot about sustainable agriculture. We now have the knowledge and skills of how we can adapt to the effect of climate change,” said Dlamini.
According to Nzwana, they entered the competition last year and came second runner up and that encouraged them to work harder and try again this year.
“The price money will be used to buy seeds for the school garden, install a borehole and extend the shade net in the vegetable garden,” said Nzwana
“The cooperative also wishes to extend the project to the community around the school where the garden is situated by encouraging one household to have a food garden,” adds Dlamini.
