NANCY NYADENZI

A blooming success

Nancy Nyadzeni Rakotoa came second in the 2002 National Female Farmer of the Year competition. Here's why.

A former farm labourer who was retrenched in 1994, and a mother of four with only a standard four education, Rakotoa had no intention of becoming another statistic of poverty and unemployment.

With a loan and a small piece of land donated by her former employer, she started to grow flowers. Through hard work, her small plot has blossomed into an enterprise that is active in the Pretoria flower market, ensuring that she and her family are well looked after and creating jobs for over 10 people.

Nancy Nyadzeni Rakotoa's story showcases one of South Africa's lesser documented strengths, a "can do" attitude - or, as South Africa's Afrikaans communities say: 'n Boer make 'n plan .