Women in agriculture must embrace opportunities, build strong networks and share their knowledge and experiences to make the path easier for those coming after them. This was the message to delegates at the Soul to Soil Women’s Month event at Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel in Centurion yesterday.
Hosted by Food For Mzansi in partnership with the Agricultural Development Agency (Agda), Soul to Soil brought together women from across South Africa’s agricultural value chain to celebrate their achievements and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in the sector.
Agda CEO Leona Archary reflected on her experience in agricultural leadership and said perseverance had been one of her biggest lessons.
“As a woman in agricultural leadership, it’s not always an easy journey when you start. But I think the one word that sums it up is perseverance,” she said.
She recalled entering boardrooms early in her career where agriculture was largely dominated by men, and motivated women not to allow such experiences to define their capabilities.
“You need to believe in yourself. That’s where I think perseverance and resilience come in. Believe in what you have to offer,” Archary said.
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Building networks and opening doors
For Archary, creating spaces where women can connect and share their experiences is equally important.
“None of us have to walk into the same holes every day. People have gone before us, and how do we make sure that those who are coming actually have an easier road rather than a more difficult road?”
She encouraged women considering a career or business in agriculture to enter the sector despite their fears, while emphasising the importance of networking, continuous learning and embracing technology across the agricultural value chain.
Looking beyond farming
Prof. Hlamanani Ngwenya, researcher and international development consultant, urged young women to broaden their understanding of agriculture beyond primary production.
“First of all, you need to understand the agriculture sector in totality,” she said, pointing to opportunities spanning policy, education, research, funding, advisory services, communication and trade.
She said broadening the perception of agriculture could also help attract talented young people into the sector. “We need to broaden the lens for you to understand agriculture so that you can attract the A students.”
Ngwenya also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between knowledge generated by practitioners and academia. Her “scientific goggles” concept encourages agricultural practitioners to document their experiences and use academic platforms to validate and preserve this knowledge.
Meanwhile, Cindy Nsibande, commercial farmer and finance management professional, drew on her journey from professional accountant to commercial farmer and emphasised that farming should be approached as a serious profession and calling, rather than simply as a retirement option.
“Agriculture is not for the faint-hearted. It is not a retirement space,” Nsibande said.
Her journey was also deeply influenced by her mother, whose small-scale farming enterprise helped support her education and shaped her interest in financial and business management.
Stepping into leadership
For commercial grain farmer Joyce Malindi, the realisation that she belonged in agriculture came when she was forced to step up and take responsibility.
“I knew it was going to be difficult, but I told myself, ‘I have to do it,’” Malindi said.
Taking on leadership was challenging, she added, but it ultimately helped her recognise her place in the industry and take ownership of her ambitions.
Malindi said establishing herself in the sector meant taking responsibility for her goals and ensuring that she remained committed to achieving them.
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