On March 13, Sefora Masia, WOCAN South Africa Coordinator, organized the WLCAN meeting in Tshwane, South Africa. There were 52 participants, 50 participants were women farmers from various parts of Tshwane Region. The other two were municipality representatives from the Gender Unit and from the Municipal Department of Agriculture and Waste Management.Dr Lipalesa Motjope, WOCAN Member, assisted Sefora in the organizing the meeting.
Participants came primarily from two farmer organizations: Douai tsa Phomolong, whose members came from all the areas of Tshwane Region, and WARD (Women in Agriculture and Rural Development), whose members also came from all corners of Tshwane Region. Others were smaller cooperatives as well as individual farmers. Male members of cooperatives also attended.
The main speaker wasMr Maeka Kaotsane: Director Supply Chain Managementfrom the Tshwane Department of Finance.His presentation was about opportunities for financial resources for farmers and their groups as well as cooperatives. He outlined the process for applying for funding from the municipality, which made an undertaking that 25% of its annual budget will be earmarked for cooperatives. Intensive discussions that showed the interest of participants followed. Women asked very pertinent questions relating to their farming and cooperative initiatives, from production to marketing issues. From the questions they asked, it was clear that the women were not well informed about availability of funding that they could apply for to improve their agricultural enterprises.
Officials from the Gender unit and also from the municipality’s department of agriculture were also present to respond to issues related to women’s empowerment.