The winner of the South African agricultural industry's Female Entrepreneur 2016 award says she hopes to inspire more women to find success in the male-dominated sector.

Venecia Janse

The ceremony, which was held by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), honored Venecia Janse of Oudrif-Appelkloof farm in the Eastern Cape's Langkloof region as the overall winner across several categories.

The winners received prize money that they are encouraged to use exclusively for activities and production within their businesses.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, Janse said she was 'very excited' to have won the event's top honor, and also revealed the secret to her success.

"I got here with hard work. It's about getting up early in the morning, doing your work with a passion, and communicating with your workers," she said.

She believed women were underrepresented in the agricultural industry, and hoped she would be a positive force for change.

"I think we need women in agriculture. I want to motivate every woman to stand up and inspire them to be the best they can be.

"There's more that women can do on the farm."

Janse is a member of the government's Oudrift Trust, which produces deciduous fruit, and the general manager of the Oudrif-Appelkloof farm.

The farm was acquired in 2005 through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) program, whereby the funding was used to purchase the land for farm workers.

Oudrif-Appelkloof is certified with GlobalG.A.P and produces 521 metric tons (MT) of Granny Smith apples and Forelle pears, 60% of which is exported to Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Janse said she planned to use the prize money to buy more trees for the farm, as many were coming to the end of their life cycle.

Following her award, Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber of South Africa (DFDC-SA) chairperson Pitso Sekhoto spoke to Janse to congratulate her.

He also reminded her that female farmers 'should not forget they are the foundation of the next generation of farmers who have to feed the nation and create jobs', according to a release.

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