Chantelle de Bruyn
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Project Name/Description:
The Butternut Farmhouse
The Butternut Farmhouse, the brainchild of Chantelle de Bruyn, has evolved from humble beginnings and has since grown to become an enterprise with the potential to grow into a huge organisation. About the project, De Bruyn says she is pleased that the company has the potential to employ more workers. “We presently employ three female workers, all of whom support their families,” she says. She adds that during peak seasons, the project employs at least eight local seasonal workers, something that she thinks contributes in a small way to the alleviation of unemployment, which is a huge problem in the country. “Presently the project is encountering cashflow problems, and that is why we employ only three female workers. But in future, once our financial situation improves, we hope to employ more female workers.” The business operates on leased premises that are privately owned by Realty Bloem CC, and is paying R6 500 a month rent. “I started the project with planting butternut in my backyard and eventually also ventured into processing coffee, selling the hot coffee by word of mouth in my community,” she says. De Bruyn is thankful to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for funding and supporting the project. “Through their help, we hope to assist our communities, as we do, by working together to alleviate unemployment. “We hope to assist local emerging farmers by doing business with them. Our commitment is to help others, and local emerging farmers will be our first port of call.”
Agriculture
