WOMEN LED AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE WINS TOP HONOURS IN ALFRED NZO Pula Nala, a 100% African women-owned and youth-majority-owned agricultural enterprise, has been recognized with a prestigious award at the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture (DoA) Women Entrepreneur Awards in the Alfred Nzo District. The Awards, were incepted in 1999 as a vehicle to encourage and increase equal participation of women in the agricultural sector, celebrate women’s contribution to agriculture, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation. In her policy speech earlier this year, DoA MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe highlighted the contribution of the department to women led enterprises including mechanisation, one of the key drivers of agricultural productivity.
Marking Provincial Youth Month, Premier Mabuyane and MEC Kontsiwe officially handed over 6 tractors to emerging young farmers, enhancing their capacity to boost agricultural productivity and contribute to provincial food security. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to empowering youth in agriculture and fostering sustainable economic growth.
The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts recently led the Eastern Cape Small-Scale Fisheries Summit in Mthatha, OR Tambo District. This summit focused on strengthening cooperatives, addressing sector challenges and empowering communities through oceans economy. The event brought together fishers, funders and government departments to find practical solutions for the small-scale fisheries.
Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) embarked on a comprehensive Breast Cancer Awareness Drive to educate and mobilise staff.
The initiative included the Desktop Awareness Campaign where DRDAR staff desktops were transformed with a pink Cancer Awareness graphic, spreading awareness and solidarity and a 5km Fun Run.
Today, the Employee Wellness section organized a successful 5km Fun Run from Dukumbana Building to Bisho Showgrounds, promoting physical activity and cancer awareness.
The aim of the awareness is to educate staff on breast cancer risks, symptoms, and prevention, encourage early detection and screening and also. To demonstrate DRDAR’s commitment to employee wellness.
DRDAR MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe, emphasized the importance of collective action in combating breast cancer. “Early detection saves lives, and we must support those affected.”Further encourage employees to make use of home gardens so that people can be able to produce food for themselves in that way they can eliminate the cancer by eating healthy.
Employee Wellness Deputy Director Lindelwa Matshoba said “Each year the department run a comprehensive campaign on breast cancer. As Employee Wellness it is our duty to ensure that the affected receive support and even those that are affected are given the necessary knowledge.
Thozama Ntshokoma one of the breast cancer survivors in the department gave employees signs and symptoms to look at and contentiously visit health care facilities. She also added that as a person that was diagnosed with breast cancer it is important for you as a person to accept the health condition and follow doctors’ orders on what to eat and drink most important to take the medication given as directed.
