“WITH females in farming jobs only making up less than half of the total, we can be certain that women who actually own the farms have numbers that are even less,” said Ray-Ann Sedres, the head of transformation at Santam.
“At our company, we remain focused on our efforts to elevate the role of women across various industries, of which agriculture is a key sector. “With our support of organisations such as Buhle Farmers’ Academy, we are kick-starting the careers of emerging farmers through consumer financial education. Part of the work done is changing perceptions about farming and creating opportunities for a new generation, particularly young black women, to enter the field. Armed with the right skills, real-life experience and business knowledge, these budding farmers can turn their farms into sustainable enterprises, contributing to the agricultural sector, which is vital to the country’s economy and for job creation,” Sedres said.
Samkelisiwe Hadebe, who is a heiress of a maize, soya beans and sugar bean farm previously owned by her grandfather, completed a course in livestock production last year. She said that it hasn’t been easy operating as a woman in such a male-dominated industry. “A lot of people thought I was pursuing the wrong career path and should focus my attentions on something more ‘female appropriate’. But I stuck to my guns. I started planting my own crops, drawing up business plans and working on financial statements. I didn’t let anyone’s doubts hinder my passion and commitment.”
Hadebe has dreams to expand her crop farm into a livestock farm and expand sales to reach not only the country, but overseas as well. “I’m quite excited about the future,” she said.
Hadebe’s top five tips for budding woman farmers:
- Let’s educate ourselves
- It doesn’t happen overnight
- Take risks
- Build a strong support network
- Adopt an entrepreneurial spirit
She said: “Education is key to increasing interest in agriculture for girls and women. After college, I did a diploma in agriculture and that’s where my passion for this industry started. If this was implemented at primary school level already, I believe that more women would be inclined towards farming.”
“I’m not rushing things. I’ve taken the first step into expanding by buying one goat. We tend to be quite impatient as human beings and think everything should just happen the moment we decide to invest our efforts, but that’s just not the way things work. Be patient with your business and yourself. Taking it one step at a time yields results.”
“I’ve had to start from scratch on the farm. One tough call I’ve had to make is to come in at lower prices to differentiate myself in the market. “Yes, this affects revenue, but I am building a client base and gaining exposure. Nothing worth having is easy. Sometimes you have to take a risk with your business in order to succeed.”
“My mother has been my biggest support since taking over the farm, whether it be with funds to invest in the farm or advice. “My family has also been a huge part of helping me run the farm, especially at a time when I can’t afford too many employees. Find your support. Lean on them when you need to. There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said.
She said: “The more people are willing to become entrepreneurs, the more this impacts the economy in terms of job creation. The more women decide to take this road, the more you open up doors for other women.” “My business is still in its infancy and I’ve only been part of the Santam sponsored CFE programme for nearly a year now, but I’m excited for the prospects. In a few years, I will be running a successful crop and livestock farm, contributing to the economy as well as my community and making my grandfather proud through it all,” Hadebe concluded.
Provided by Santam.
