Podcast: Agda plots growth for all farmers

Leona Archary is back on Farmer’s Inside Track to talk about her job as CEO of the Agricultural Development Agency (Agda).

In this episode, she talks about how Agda is changing South African agriculture by working with the private sector to help small-scale farmers in Mzansi.

Archary says the issue of farmers’ financial needs is something to think about. So, for it to work, you have to know when you are matching the needs of the funders and the farmers. This will ensure that their goals are the same.

“A lot of people focus their minds only on primary production when they look at agriculture. But as we have seen during the last 24 to 36 months, there are so many opportunities even on the food service side for example. Other opportunities include logistics, or the inputs supply side where you can actually grow into entrepreneurs and let them contribute without leaving the agri sector, because not everyone is a farmer.”

She says having more young people and women work in the agri sector is one of her biggest goals. She also explains how Agda puts together packages with patient capital.

Male dominance in agriculture and the gender gap

Archary says there is still a sizable gender gap in the agricultural industry.

“I can often walk in the room, and it’s all male and you’d be the only female talking in that space. It takes us one step back, even as women ourselves in the industry.

“What platforms are we setting to empower and make sure that we have other women who feel confident enough to step into those rooms and begin to show our male counterparts that we’re good enough? To show them that we understand this industry and that we shouldn’t have to fight for a space. We’re actually earning our spaces.”

Archary is certain that these issues will be discussed if enabling platforms are set up for women in the agribusiness sector. She goes on to say that male dominance is vast even in the agricultural finance sector.