Women contribute to agriculture in rural communities, especially in developing countries. As a result, in 2023, 4,2% of the GDP was the agriculture sector’s contribution to the South African economy.

However, while agriculture plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and food security, women continue to face systemic barriers that limit their participation and hinder their ability to thrive in this sector.

Culture, traditions and biases are standing in their way, used to justify preventing women from gaining access to land ownership, resources, funding and positions of power.

Gender equality is critical for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the UN and adopted as a global priority by the G7 and G20 countries, of which South Africa is a member.

However, in its paper titled ‘An Exploratory Study on Women and Gender Equality in South African Agriculture’ (2020), the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa found that an average of 20% of farmers who owned farms were women. Most full-time employees were men (66%), while 52% of part-time or seasonal employees were women.

Beyond access

The struggles go beyond access to land and resources; women holding professional positions are met with consistent criticism even when rendering mentorship and academic teachings.

To ‘earn’ their place in the sector, more women are pursuing the highest-level qualifications to be afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

In her research paper titled ‘Women entrepreneurship in South Africa: Understanding the role of competencies in business success’ (2017), Bridget NO Irene indicated that physical female involvement in operating agricultural businesses was still considered a relatively new trend in South Africa; it was still a challenge for some people to come to terms with the fact that even women can do it.

This is often experienced by female students, especially during practical sessions that demand physical power; in this case, men are frequently prioritised as leaders for these sessions. Here, being sidelined hinders female students from gaining as much experience as their male counterparts, thereby making them less competitive in the industry.

Women’s lack of recognition in the workplace and during studies undermines confidence and self-esteem and creates an even greater obstacle to participation in the agriculture industry (Ndlovu & Kruger, 2023).

These challenges are not unique to the female coordinators working in the Seriti Institute’s agricultural programme, Work.Learn.Grow. As a requirement of the programme, the coordinators often visit the communities we work in to do site visits and assist participants in public employment programmes with activities.

There is usually resistance from male representatives of those communities, given that most of them are heavily biased – a demand for engaging with a male colleague demoralises the educated and skilled coordinators.

More than gender equality

The recognition of women in agriculture could create thriving agribusinesses that provide food security, economic growth and transformation to the farming industry. Contributing to the dignity of women in agriculture is about much more than promoting gender equality; it’s contributing to the health and wealth of agriculture in South Africa.

Gender imbalance is an obstacle to economic empowerment. This is because men are always granted the power to lead in the field even though they don’t necessarily possess the required qualifications.

Even though women in agriculture are often characterised as intelligent professionals in their workspaces, they continue to be on the margins of economic decision-making, and most of the time, they are not included in opportunities for economic emancipation.

Addressing gender inequality in the agriculture sector requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying structural barriers and promotes women’s empowerment, such as Women in Farming by Momentum Metropolitan.

This includes implementing policies and programmes that encourage women’s land rights, access to resources, and participation in decision-making processes.

Targeted support

Providing targeted support and training initiatives tailored to the needs of women farmers can also enhance their productivity and resilience. The Work.Learn.Grow programme actively addresses and mitigates inequality by promoting the upliftment of women.

In one of the public employment programmes Seriti implements, the Social Employment Fund, approximately 75% of the participants are female, and they receive training in agricultural activities equally.

According to Santra and Kundu (2001), land tenure that grants women access to productive assets and promotes their ability to make independent decisions is a critical prerequisite for their empowerment in agriculture.

Agricultural policymakers should focus more on establishing and improving gender policies to include gender dimensions and budgeting.

Moreover, challenging harmful gender norms and stereotypes through education and awareness-raising campaigns is essential for fostering a more inclusive and equitable agriculture sector.

By recognising and valuing the contributions of women in agriculture, South Africa can harness the full potential of its agriculture sector and contribute to sustainable development and food security for all.

Agriculture encompasses more than what is produced on farms; as a nation, we must begin to view women as equals and competent agriculturists.

Transportation, agro-processing, food distribution, policy and regulatory domains, agribusiness and research are some elements under the broad umbrella that women are capable of executing.

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly.

Elizabeth Ralefatane is the coordinator for Work.Learn.Grow, the Seriti Institute’s agricultural programme. Email [email protected].