Spirits soared high and sounds of ululations filled the room as 35 women farmers and agripreneurs graduated from a year-long blended development programme by Corteva Agriscience, known as #SoilSistas.
The special ceremony was hosted at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg yesterday to honour and celebrate the #SoilSistas who successfully completed the 2022 programme.
Joy and excitement were palpable as the women took to the stage to collect their completion certificates. The programme delivered five top achievers who received a special certificate and cash prizes of R2 000 sponsored by Food For Mzansi, a partner of the programme.
A blessing for many
One of the top achievers, Phiwokuhle Shabangu, expressed her gratitude for how the programme boosted her confidence levels.
“I am currently studying for my MBA, and taking part in the programme at the same time has been a blessing for me because the two were able to feed off each other. I enjoyed the programme because it touched on a variety of things, so we can use what we were taught and implement it in our other businesses as well,” Shabangu said.
She believes her participation in the Corteva Women Agripreneurship Programme will continue to open more doors for her in agriculture long after graduating.
“I also realised that we are well-represented by women in agriculture because of the diversity and different types of farming I got to learn about during the programme. We also learned more about sisterhood, where we listen, advise each other, and support each other’s businesses in and outside of agriculture,” said Shabangu.
The other top achievers included Ika Cronjé, Chube Mothapo, Tsholofelo Gaechose, and Sinokuhle Mbuyazi.
Powerful partnerships
Food For Mzansi’s head of news, Duncan Masiwa, handed over the awards to the top achievers. He underscored the importance of the publication’s two-year-old partnership with Corteva Agriscience.
“Our partnership with Corteva Agriscience has been instrumental in empowering women farmers and agripreneurs. We are honoured to have played a role in raising the profile of these exceptional #SoilSistas, and look forward to welcoming the third cohort soon.”
Minister Didiza pays a surprise visit
A special visit by the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, Thoko Didiza, took the #SoilSistas by surprise. In her keynote speech, Didiza applauded the work done by Corteva Agriscience and GIBS.
She said together they are doing tremendous work in identifying the gender gap in agriculture and initiating a programme to train and support women in agriculture.
“In provinces like Gauteng, women account for 60% of farmers. This illustrates the important role of women in our agricultural sector and, more importantly, in our country’s food system.
“Programmes such as these will help to shape skills and networks, as agriculture is the backbone of our economy. This programme will also help to create a field where both women and men can participate and contribute fully to the growth and development of the agricultural sector,” explained Didiza.
According to Betty Kiplagat, head of government affairs at Corteva Agriscience in Africa and the Middle East, empowering women farmers and encouraging other young women to build careers in agriculture is essential to their mission at the agricultural chemical and seed company.
“I believe it’s time to shine the spotlight on women, as they are critical not only for the success of agriculture but for the success of nations, families, and nations to come.”
Kiplagat pointed to a global survey on agriculture, which pointed out that women felt they were equally successful as their male counterparts but felt women and men are not given the same opportunities.
“They said it would take a decade before they could reach the same level of equality with male farmers, and that is why this programme is important; we don’t want it to take a decade; we want it to get here sooner rather than later,” Kiplagat explained
Third #SoilSistas cohort kicks off
According to Miranda Hosking, executive director for social education at GIBS, women should continue to pave new paths in agriculture for themselves and others.
“When I reflect on women’s participation in agriculture, I see that a large number of women are involved in small-scale agricultural enterprises. Therefore, it is essential to understand the importance of your role as a woman,” she said.
Hosking further encouraged women to embrace their power so that future generations of women can benefit from their sacrifices and achievements.
Women are often caretakers of food and health, and they play a critical role in Africa’s agriculture sector, producing approximately 70% of the continent’s food.
Corteva Agriscience is committed to ensuring that women thrive in the agricultural industry and are continually empowered as farmers. The company provides various benefits such as visibility, recognition, and mentorship to support women in agriculture.
The third cohort of #SoilSistas is soon embarking on a year-long journey to enhance their skills and knowledge. The programme will help 30 women farmers and agripreneurs from all parts of the country improve their entrepreneurial, business, and leadership skills.
READ NEXT: Women in agri: Third #SoilSistas cohort kicks off
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