MEDIA RELEASE:
Agricultural Writers SA North named its regional candidates on 9 October during its awards evening in Pretoria. The candidates were nominated by Agricultural Writers SA North members in the sections for Farmer of the Year, Agriculturist of the Year, and New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture.
These provincial candidates, together with candidates from the !Xhariep region (Western, Eastern and Northern Cape) will now be adjudicated by an independent panel of judges. The national Agricultural Writers SA awards event will held on 13 November in Gauteng where the national awarde recipients in each category will be announced.
The Agricultural Writers SA North event’s main sponsors were New Holland Agriculture, Rijk Zwaan, and NWK, supported by Van Loveren, FMC and the South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO).
Mbali Nwoko, vice chairperson of Agricultural Writers SA North, said at the event that agriculture is an industry that is often overlooked and not adequately acknowleged. “We celebrate other sectors, yet many people take for granted the work that we do. Tonight we are here to celebrate those who contributes meaningfully to the sector.”
Nicolene Kotzé, marketing specialist at Rijk Zwaan South Africa, said that their commitment is not only to developing innovative vegetable varieties, but also to sharing knowledge, supporting grower success and investing in the future of agriculture.
“That is why sponsoring these awards is such a natural fit for us. Agriculture succeeds because of people. People who innovate. People who lead. People who solve problems. People who create opportunities for others. These awards recognise exactly those individuals, and they remind us that the future of agriculture depends not only on what we grow, but on the people who drive the industry forward.”
Jaco du Preez, marketing manager for New Holland Agriculture, stated that hey are proud to reaffirm their commitment to the Agricultural Writers SA. “For New Holland, our relationship with the agricultural media is about much more than promoting a brand or a product. It is about working together to ensure that farmers have access to credible information that can add real value to their businesses.”
Johan Bezuidenhout, Group Manager: Corporate Marketing and Communication at NWK, emphasised the importance of recognising excellence in agriculture. He said, “An occasion such as this, where excellence in agriculture is acknowledged and celebrated, is of great significance to NWK. It also aligns closely with one of our core values, which is commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.”
This year’s Agricultural Writers SA North award recipients