Discussions around women-led agripreneurship, technology adoption and strengthening agricultural value chains took centre stage during a recent SoilSistas roundtable hosted at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) in Johannesburg.
The event brought together industry leaders, academics and farmers to explore how women entrepreneurs are contributing to agricultural profitability, resilience and food security while navigating challenges such as market access, finance and climate risks.
Communications manager at Corteva Agriscience, Lerato Luzipo, said, “The SoilSistas initiative, launched by Corteva Agriscience in partnership with the Gibs Development Academy, empowers women in agriculture by addressing systemic barriers. Combining academic learning with practical training in modern farming, finance, marketing and sustainability, the programme aims to position women farmers as business leaders shaping the future of our food system.”
In her opening remarks, programme manager at Gibs, Mirriam Mashego, highlighted the growing responsibilities placed on women running agricultural enterprises.
As agricultural businesses expand, Mashego noted that operational complexity increases significantly. She explained that the SoilSistas programme is designed to prepare farmers for these evolving demands by strengthening both their technical and business management capabilities.
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Building credibility through local markets
During the panel discussion, Simóhn Engelbrecht, head of trade and relations at AgriSA, emphasised the importance of establishing strong local market foundations before pursuing export opportunities.
“The biggest opportunity is not export first, but building a strong and reliable presence in the local market before scaling towards export,” she said.
Addressing broader market access challenges, Engelbrecht explained that coordination across the agricultural value chain remains a major constraint. She noted that buyers prioritise reliability and consistency, meaning that traceability, scalability and supply stability must be managed together for farmers to secure long-term market opportunities.
Acting chief executive officer of the Land Bank, Jabu Mphambo, reflected on the realities faced by emerging farmers seeking financial support.
From a regulatory perspective, he explained that Land Bank must comply with strict legal and financial requirements when approving funding applications. While acknowledging frustrations around access to finance, Mphambo pointed to progress achieved through blended finance initiatives.
“We have approved approximately R4 billion in funding across more than 500 farmers. Many of these beneficiaries faced similar challenges to other applicants but were able to meet the requirements. The process can be demanding as farmers also have a responsibility to be prepared and compliant in order to access the funding available.”
The realities and challenges of farming
Providing a farmer’s perspective, Kabelo Puling, chief executive officer of Pula Nala Bataung, an award-winning farming enterprise, spoke candidly about the realities of operating an agricultural business, particularly in rural areas.
She described farming as a capital-intensive and demanding sector where limited infrastructure and high input costs often place additional pressure on farmers.
“Serious consideration needs to be given to the broader role of agriculture in addressing socio-economic challenges. We need to use the land we have to create jobs, improve food security and expand the economy, especially in rural areas,” she said.
Adding an academic and supply chain view, Dr Carla Schutte, senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Pretoria, emphasised the increasing impact of climate-related disruptions on agricultural systems.
“We can no longer treat climate events as isolated incidents. We must build systems that are flexible, resilient and prepared, and ensure that digital tools and skills are adopted purposefully, aligned with the readiness and needs of farmers so they can respond effectively and strengthen the resilience of their farming operations,” she explained.
Schutte highlighted the importance of integrated planning and adaptability, noting that climate variability requires agricultural systems to be designed with resilience at their core.
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