Join #SoilSista Mulalo Munyamela on her incredible journey, where she rises from adversity to overcome the ravages of theft to build a thriving agricultural empire and discover a profound sense of sisterhood within the Corteva Agriscience Women Agripreneur Programme.
In the realm where passion for food meets agricultural fervour, Mulalo Munyamela, a seasoned corporate professional of 14 years, embarked on a farming journey in 2018. Amid the challenges, she embraced setbacks as stepping stones, learning, unlearning, and thriving as the resilient #SoilSista she is today.
Mulalo’s path is marked by remarkable achievements, including her selection for the 2023 cohort of the Corteva Agriscience Women Agripreneur Programme. From the outset, her ambition was to make her mark in the food industry, and she began her journey by delving into hospitality and honing her skills as a chef.
“I had to change my passion for food into a career, where I became a chef. I grew up in an environment where the love of food and healthy produce was the first pillar in my family education,” she says.
But the journey came with its own set of challenges. In 2018, she started farming in Makhando, Limpopo, and theft was one of her major obstacles. Eventually, she decided to look for an alternative piece of land to farm on, and she absolutely hit the jackpot in Thabazimbi, Limpopo.
“I applied for agricultural land and received 1 300 hectares in 2022. I currently manage 800 hectares for livestock farming and an additional 500 hectares dedicated to cultivating sunflowers,” she explained.
Passion for agriculture
“I had the passion to move forward despite the challenges I was facing. I believed in myself and knew I could do this,” this #SoilSista explains.
Munyamela is grateful for the leadership that encouraged her to embark on Corteva’s year-long blended development program, propelling her towards her full potential. She is currently reaping the rewards of this initiative through her involvement with the GIBS Entrepreneurship Academy.
“I am enjoying it because right now I am learning a lot in this programme. I am learning that you need to have a system in place when you are running your business,” she says.
Connecting with others
While her personal growth is important, networking and building relationships are as well. It is a blessing for her to meet women who are taking up space and have hearts to teach each other about sisterhood.
“It is helping a lot; when you can hear someone talking about the same challenges, you realise you are not alone. Networking is vital. The ladies are learning a lot from each other.”
ALSO READ: Side to main Hustle: #SoilSista’s Journey to farming triumph
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