PICTURES: Young farmers win big at GDARD Awards 2024

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Young farmers won big amounts at the 2024 Young Entrepreneur Awards themed ‘Recognition of excellence in the Agricultural value chain towards youth empowerment’.

The event, held on Tuesday, at the Anew OR Tambo Hotel in Benoni, was attended by the Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi and the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture And Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa.

The vision is to economically transform agri-food value chain and ensure sustainable development for healthy food secure, integrated, smart and developed urban and rural communities.

For any farmer to be eligible to enter, they must have their own business or project and in the case of partnership, youth ownership should be 51 percent.

The awards not only recognized the farmers but farmworkers too.

The overall winner was Eland Farmers, which walked away with R200 000.

BEST YOUNG FARMWORKER

Ongeziwe Molose, of Minate Manufacturing, won the best young farmworker award. The company manufactures, processes and packages various organic nuts, biscuits, health, bars, seeds and peanut butter.

Ntsako Hlongwane became the 1^st runner-up in the best young farm worker category. Hlongwane works at Bamoshekedi Poultry Farm.

2^ND Runner-up Thabang Raymond Legabe of Voice Out Deaf.

BEST YOUNG HOMESTEAD PRODUCER

Winner: Caroline Neo Maluleke

1^st Runner-up: Grace Hanna Mabuza

2^nd Runner-up: Mpho Chokoe

BEST YOUNG SUBSISTENCE PRODUCER

Winner: Tswelopele Food Security located in Carletonville Kutsong.

1^st Runner-up: Embheka Mix Farming which operates Shomang Primary School and Emadwaleni High School in Orlando West.

2^nd Runner-up: Matabela Rand established by Kabelo Monageng.

BEST YOUNG SMALLHOLDER PRODUCERT

Winner: The Yende and Partners.

1^st Runner-up: TC Women in Action.

2^nd Runner-up: Hyharvest based on the rooftop of Morningside Shopping centre.

BEST YOUNG AGROPROCESSOR

Winner: Nosso Sunflower Oil started by Thembani Baloyi in Orange farm.

1^st Runner-up: Lemme Chew Foods and Bevs established in 2016 by Katlego Suze.

2^nd Runner-up: Moritelo Skin Care operating at the Innovation Hub in Bio Park Building, Tshwane.

BEST YOUNG COMMERCIAL PRODUCER

Winner: Eland Greens owned by Amohelang Malangabi from Walkersville.

Winner: Oarabile Holdings 21 established in 2021 by Resego Njoro of Vergeeneging.

1^st Rubber-up:  Thusang Bakone Group.

BEST FEMALE WORKER

Winner: Thandiwe Phungula

Ist Runner-up: Irene Msiza

2^nd Runner-up: Paulina

BEST HOMESTEAD PRODUCER

Winner: Caroline Maluleke

1^st Runner-up: Grace Mabuza

2^nd Runner-up: Mirriam Kgopa

BEST SUBSISTANCE PRODUCER

Winner: Lucia Matabela

1^st Runner-up: Perseverance cooperative

2^nd Runner-up: Khayagazi Holdings

BEST SMALLHOLDER PRODUCER

Winner: Thahameso Farming

1^st Runner-up: Greens Devrol

2^nd Runner-up: Voice out Deaf

BEST AGROPROCESSOR

Winner: Letcom Bongi Bees

1^st Runner-up: Miante Manufacturing

2^nd Runner-up: Lemme Chow Food and Bev

BEST COMMERCIAL PRODUCER

Winner:

1^st Runner-up:

2^nd Runner-up:

BEST EXPORTER IN THE SECTOR

Winner: Eland Greens

1^st Runner-up: Setjoka farming

2^nd Runner-up: Kings Farms

MEC SPECIAL AWARD

PANAAAR SEEDS INPUT WINNERS ( VALUE: R100 000)