For centuries, women have played a vital role in sustaining South Africa’s agricultural sector, serving as the backbone of farming communities across the nation. Despite their significant contributions, many women farmers still face the harsh reality of insecure land rights.
Recognising the urgency of this issue, Food For Mzansi, in collaboration with John Deere, is set to host the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba. This highly anticipated event aims to bring together top women farmers and agripreneurs to explore solutions that will empower them to pivot towards commercialisation. The iconic FNB Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, will serve as the backdrop for this groundbreaking event, scheduled to take place on 14 and 15 June.
Top speakers in both the business and agricultural sectors have been confirmed. Among them is KwaZulu-Natal beekeeper Mbali Ngcobo, who looks forward to her panel discussion on women empowerment in commercial farming.
Ngcobo is a co-founder of Purpose Food Projects and Consulting based in Durban, and she manages different farms for the department of agriculture and rural development in KwaZulu-Natal. As a #SoilSista, she is also a graduate of Corteva Agriscience’s 2022 Women Agripreneur Programme.
Fast-tracking land ownership
Ngcobo told Food For Mzansi that women have always been farming leaders although they typically aren’t owners of land or farming enterprises.
“They have been the driving forces as the actual farmers who work the land, who use their nurturing strengths to harvest and package the most delicate crops,” Ngcobo said.
She looks forward to having a solution-focused discussion at the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba with her peers and key industry players.
“We have to bring a change of mindset [that] allow the background actors to become the role players, which is not easy because a lot – psychologically, emotionally, physically – has to happen to accommodate such a change. So the question becomes, ‘How do we do that?’. Then we can talk about commercialisation.”
Ngcobo looks forward to exploring solutions in fast-tracking the ownership of land for women farmers. “I would encourage everyone, either male or female, to attend [the indaba] as this topic not only addresses women but also men and their important roles in this.”
Youth in agriculture unite
Meanwhile, Ipeleng Kwadi, a cattle breeder from North West and chairperson of tYouth in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa (Yard SA), said she is excited to be a first-time attendee of Food For Mzansi’s biggest annual event.
“We are setting a footprint in bringing Yard SA closer to promote awareness of the organisation in all provinces in South Africa and the continent in general.
“I’m looking forward to bringing Yard executives from different provinces to network with youth on opportunities our offices have in developing their enterprises and develop a relationship with other private stakeholders.”
Yard is on a mission to fast-track challenges that youth in agriculture face in the country. They seek to sources solutions to sectoral challenges in partnership with the young agriculturalists in all corners of South Africa.
Focus on diversification
Indaba attendees will be pleased to know that farm diversification is also a key focus at this year’s indaba. Biologist and fly farmer Arné Verhoef will unpack why farmers should not put all of their eggs in one basket.
“I’m very excited about the indaba,” Verhoef said. “I’ll be discussing on-farm diversification, praising the benefits of on-farm side hustles, elaborating on the pitfalls of doing too much at once as well as ranting about all the novel crops and niche practices a dedicated farmer can explore.”
Verhoef started his insect protein company, Nambu, in East London, Eastern Cape.
He believes that more farmers will continue to embrace the principles of regenerative agriculture, and diversifying their cropping, not so much to reduce their environmental impact but instead to reduce their input costs. He added that crop diversification is key, but so is recirculating on-farm resources and finding a way to squeeze economic value out of them.
Verhoef believes that as South African agriculture is primarily export driven, an increasing number of new crops will enter the fray, which can be grown and supplied to American and EU markets, but more importantly to middle eastern and Asian markets.
“And of course we will see more tech integration of farm, more mechanisation and more farmers exploring new ways of growing, including hydroponics and aquaponics,” he said.
“The role of young agriculturalists in all of this? It is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks, future proofing necessarily involves those whose future depends on it. And besides, surviving in the world as it is requires everyone to have a side hustle, and on a farm, side hustles are found through diversification.”
ALSO READ: Young farmers: Top speakers at upcoming indaba
Get yourself a ticket
Want to attend the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba? You can still grab indaba tickets before they’re gone by clicking this link. For just R1 200 (including VAT) for two days, including lunch and a cocktail function on the evening of 14 June, you’ll be investing in yourself and your farming future.
The Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba is designed for young farmers and agripreneurs looking to extend their supply chains, find possible partners and funders, and plug into new markets and value chains.
INDABA TICKETS: Click here to book your seat at a discounted rate
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