North West Invites Youth and Women Farmers to 2026 Awards

North West MEC Madoda Sambatha emphasized that the initiative serves to honor outstanding achievements while driving younger generations and women toward sustainable careers in the sector. To qualify, enterprises must be at least 80 percent owned and managed by the target demographics, with youth applicants required to be between 18 and 35 years old.

The competition spans diverse categories, ranging from subsistence and smallholder operations to commercial farming, agro-processing, and exports. Specialized recognition is also reserved for agricultural workers and enterprises owned by persons with disabilities. All submissions undergo a rigorous verification process, including on-site assessments by departmental teams to confirm the impact and commitment of shortlisted nominees.

Applications close on August 28, 2026. Interested participants can collect entry forms through district coordinators or local agricultural offices, with further guidance available from Provincial Project Coordinator Poiho Ramotlatsi. The final winners will be announced during an awards ceremony scheduled for Heritage Month this September.