Young women across South Africa are increasingly turning to agriculture as a pathway to entrepreneurship, job creation and community development, helping to strengthen local economies while contributing to the country’s future food security.
In Limpopo, Petunia Molea and Vhengani Ndou are among a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs building sustainable farming businesses and creating employment opportunities in rural communities.
Petunia Molea, 36, from Gumbu Village near Musina, started her agricultural journey with a small maize garden at home. Inspired by her mother’s passion for farming, she established Godzwana General Farming in 2017 with just one hectare of land. By reinvesting income from each harvest, she has expanded the business to five hectares and today supplies tomatoes to Tiger Brands to produce its iconic All Gold Tomato Sauce.
Her business now employs two permanent employees and 15 seasonal workers.
Image above: Petunia Molea, a young woman farmer from Gumbu Village in Limpopo started Godzwana General Farming in 2017 when she was 27 years old. The business grew from one to 5 hectares of land and today, she employs two permanent employees and 15 seasonal workers. (NOTE: High resolution images available on request)
Several kilometres away, Vhengani Ndou, 32, from Muswodi Village, chose farming over a career as a qualified boilermaker and established Onay Farming in 2019. Despite facing challenges accessing finance, she has built a growing enterprise that employs five permanent employees and around 30 seasonal workers. Her farm supplies tomatoes to Tiger Brands and provides practical workplace experience for agriculture students from the University of Venda.
Image above: Vhengani Ndou, owner of Onay Farming, employs five permanent employees and around 30 seasonal workers. Her farm supplies tomatoes to Tiger Brands and provides practical workplace experience for agriculture students from the University of Venda. (NOTE: High resolution images available on request)
Both women are participants in the Tiger Brands Hulisani Agricultural Development Programme, which supports emerging farmers with interventions aimed at improving productivity, sustainability and long-term growth.
“Young farmers have an important role to play in strengthening South Africa’s food security, create jobs and contribute to economic growth,” says Maanda Milubi, Tiger Brands Director Enterprise Supplier Development and Transformation.
“Through the Tiger Brands Hulisani Agricultural Development Programme, we aim to provide emerging farmers with support that can help build sustainable businesses for the future and strengthen local agricultural value chains that support our business and the communities in which we operate.”
Ndou and Molea’s journeys highlight the opportunities that agriculture offers young people, particularly women, to build successful businesses while creating jobs and contributing to economic activity in their communities.
“Agriculture offers young people the opportunity to build a future for themselves while creating opportunities for others. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with patience, perseverance and a willingness to work hard, it is possible to build a sustainable business and make a lasting impact in your community,” says Ndou.
Molea believes agriculture can play an important role in empowering young people and strengthening rural communities.
“Farming is not easy, but with patience, commitment and hard work, it is possible to build something meaningful and create opportunities for yourself and others,” she says.