The North West department of agriculture and rural development has taken a significant step towards empowering women with the launch of the Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (Ward) structure in Klerksdorp recently.
According to the department, this initiative is set to increase women’s representation, participation, and leadership within the agricultural sector, helping address gender equity challenges.
“The Ward structure aims to provide women with access to essential training, skill development programmes, and resources, supporting them in overcoming common obstacles like limited access to land, finance, and markets. It also focuses on creating strong networks among women in agriculture to encourage collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and peer support.”
Empowering women
“By promoting women in leadership roles within agricultural initiatives, the programme seeks to foster food security, economic empowerment, and rural development, while highlighting the critical contributions of women to sustainable development goals,” the department stated.
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During the launch, head of department Thupi Mokhatla emphasised that empowering rural women will fast-track community-led development, especially in agricultural innovation, sustainable livelihoods, and food security.
“This launch reflects the department’s commitment to advancing gender equity and harnessing the full potential of women to drive agricultural and rural development,” Mokhatla said.
Newly elected Ward chairperson in North West, Neo Mohlamme. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
He said the launch of the women’s structure comes after the department launched the youth structure. “Today we were competing for our efforts as the department to have this important stakeholder on board. This structure will assist the department in terms of organising women in agriculture and rural development so that we can fight the scourge of poverty and food security in North West.
“North West is one of the provinces that is not doing well. We know that we are one where people here go to bed without anything to eat, so we are hopeful with the establishment of this structure that the role of women in the sector will be realised,” he said.
Neo Mohlamme, a farmer and the elected chairperson of Ward in North West, expressed her enthusiasm for this transformative initiative, noting its role in making women both beneficiaries and leaders in a more inclusive agricultural future.
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