Farmers under the umbrella of the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (NERPO) have their way of thanking people who they feel are contributing to the development of this country.

One of the latest to be honoured is the MEC for Agriculture, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, who was presented with a nguni heifer named after her for her sterling work in assisting emerging farmers. The animal was officially handed over during a special function to honour her at Mara Research Station outside Louis Trichardt last week.

The organisation has already donated heifers to Magadzi’s predecessor, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and the former Minister of Agriculture, Ms Stella Siqau.

In making the presentation, the national president of NERPO, Mr Madambi Muvhulawa, said when she took over as MEC, she made it clear that she knew nothing about agriculture, but was prepared to learn from the farmers and that is exactly what she did. Muvhulawa said the MEC had performed beyond anybody´s expectations. “We have come a long way with her and it is now time that she takes her rightful place as the best in the country,” he said.

He said the heifer was to introduce her to cattle farming and was a baptismal into the church of NERPO. “Continue growing your business supply and feed the nation,” he said.

Magadzi has fought for the rights of emerging farmers over the years and it was during her tenure as MEC that the Nguni cow project was introduced. A thousand hectares of land were given for that purpose to emerging farmers and she deserves the honour, he said. Muvhulawa said it was a fitting thank you to an able leader who made sure that the bull and heifer project that was initiated by NERPO prospered the way it was doing. The project initiated by NERPO in 2003 has so far benefited more than 90 farmers and 254 bulls have been given to farmers.

NERPO’s provincial chairperson, Mr Tshianeo Mathidi, said his organisation would continue to honour leaders of Magadzi’s stature. “We felt there was no better way of saying thank to a leader who had done so much for our members than what we have just done today.” He said that, although there was a decline in membership in some districts, the organization was becoming a force to reckon with. “At the pace we are moving, we see a major organization fighting for the advancement of emerging farmers,” he said.