“Together we can do more!”

The Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Lephalale Municipality hosted a farm workers awards on the 25th of May at Bela Bela to recognize and award human excellence.

The host of the ceremony was the agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi. 250 farm workers attended this splendid ceremony, of which 39 farm workers received awards. The objective of the awards was to motivate both farmers and farm workers to comply with the farm workers policy and regulations and encourage an increase in productivity.

Recent research conducted in Mopani shows that some farmers are still making use of child labour and some still do not comply with the policies and regulations set by government. Farm workers are deprived of schools, health facilities, are under paid, are not allowed to join a union and still don’t have any working contracts.

While farm workers accuse farmers of abuse and poor working conditions, farmers raised concerns that farm workers are unproductive. The MEC recognised the dynamics of the farming community and emphasized that the relationships she has build through her visits to farms need to be nurtured and continued.

In closing the MEC congratulated the farm workers and commended the Lephalale Municipality as well as the private businesses in the area for their contribution not only to the awards ceremony, but also to the change in the area.