As we celebrate Women’s Month, activists, leaders and farmers took some time out to reflect on the role of women in the agricultural space and how better to support one another.
Hosted by Food for Mzansi in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Agency (Agda), the Soul to Soil Women’s Day brunch earlier this week in Pretoria honoured the queens who cultivate not only the soil but also the future of Mzansi’s agricultural sector.
Leona Archary, chief executive officer of Agda, set the tone with a powerful keynote address, inspiring women to embrace their strength and resilience in the agricultural sector.
Nurturing and supporting women
According to Archary, the theme of “Soul to Soil” resonates deeply with her, as she believes it captures the profound connection between our passions, dreams, and the earth that sustains us.
“The relationship between soul and soil is at the heart of our agricultural journey as women in agriculture. It’s about giving and receiving, and it’s also about nurturing and being nurtured,” she said.
Having transitioned through various roles in government, Archary said she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of agriculture.
“I saw how it could change lives, empower communities, and drive economic growth. This sector, by its very nature, demands a leadership style that is resilient and nurturing. It requires people who understand the complex nature of agriculture, have a long-term vision, and can adapt to changes and challenges.
“I have found that as women we have the ability to manage diverse responsibilities – strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to nurture potential. These translate powerfully into effective leadership in agriculture,” Archary said.
She acknowledged that the path from soul to soil was not always smooth, and many women encounter obstacles that can make their journey more difficult.
“I firmly believe that within challenges lie opportunities for growth, innovation, and transformative change. At Agda, we see these challenges as calls to action. We are committed to supporting women in seizing the opportunities that arise from these challenges,” she added.
Graced by an impressive lineup of speakers, Dr Mankodi Moitse, the chief executive officer of Kagiso Trust, opened the discussion with reflections on the complexities faced in agricultural interventions.
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“The agricultural sector is big. We can only do a part. Most people sitting here have small farms, how do we make sure that small does not make a liability? Small still means an asset, and while we’re waiting for the lands to be released to women, we need to make sure that with whatever they have, they can actually have sustainable businesses,” Moitse said.
Reflecting on her journey from information technology to agriculture, Ntuthu Mbiko, a pioneering farmer-agripreneur, said it was motivated by the desire to make a difference.
Finding the right product
“What made me start focusing on agriculture was when I would go to restaurants and realise that people were consuming meat. I felt let me try and do something and collect some animals.
“I started with four animals, and when I went to auctions, the big commercial farmers would get exposure. So auctions really motivated me. I always say when we talk about success in our country, they only mention the well-known; one day they must mention our names as women in agriculture as well,” Mbiko said.
Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of the Masimong Group, Logamal Ramiah, discussed the long-term nature of agricultural investments, emphasising that agriculture is not the easiest to understand and has long-term time frames attached to it.
“If you look at employment in South Africa, the two sectors that contribute the most in terms of labour force are agriculture and mining. Those were the two pillars that we started investing in, so we firmly believe in sectors in South Africa that have impact and sectors that are long-term and contribute to economic growth,” she said.
Founder and managing director of Carmién Tea, Mientjie Mouton, shared her company’s model, which focuses on opening up the value chain and partnering with the right people.
“Everything that we try and accomplish is always based on a commercial plan and being viable in the international sphere. I started the Carmién Rooibos Tea Company 25 years ago with the prime focus of introducing international big tea companies to a unique South African product representing the people of South Africa and the diversity of South Africa,” she said.
Making sure women in business are seen
Highlighting the importance of visibility and empowerment for women in larger businesses, entrepreneur, global communicator, and brand marketing expert, Barbra Muzata, noted that we should start practicing what we preach in terms of women’s inclusion.
“Communications and branding as a professional because of the many other hats that I wear, making sure that women in larger businesses are visible across Africa and the Middle East.
“We should utilise such platforms and showcase our product in South Africa in agriculture. Because of the visibility and understanding I have, and of course, platforms like these, my role is to be that person who whispers in that CEO’s ear to say, ‘Have you considered coming up with something for women?’,” she said.
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