African Women in Agriculture celebrates Youth Day with a farming seminar
With unemployment at an all-time high AWiA is teaching women how to become agri-entrepreneurs.
The African Women in Agriculture (AWiA) held a Youth Day celebration with an agriculture seminar to inspire the next generation of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs, on June 21.
The seminar was held at the TLC Children’s Home in Bronkhorstfontein where the organisation has facilities where they teach women to become agri-entrepreneurs.
The founder of AWiA, Agnes Hove, said: “Our main purpose is to promote, encourage and make social changes for women in the agricultural sector. We have created an incubator in the South of Johannesburg which provides training and support to socially disadvantaged females aspiring to great things.
“We create jobs, empower women, and give confidence to previously overlooked women. We expose them to the tangible benefits of farming while providing them with the tools to succeed.”
The first group of 24 women finished their course recently and the organisation is currently looking at the next group.
The course that is offered takes about a year.
The day saw many of the youth from the surrounding area attend to learn about agriculture and its advantages.
The day started with a tour through the facilities with future agri-entrepreneurs explaining the different facets of the project on the nine-hectare plot.
The Comaro Chronicle spoke to Umathi Nkosi, one of the youth who attended the seminar and she said: “I learned a lot about planting and farming in general. We learned about hydroponics and how we can plant vegetables and fruit in our houses. “
After lunch, the youth were treated to a speech on entrepreneurship in agriculture.
The day ended with everyone planting a tray of spinach seedlings that will be ready to harvest within 28 days.
Facts about women in agriculture
• Women make up 60-80% of smallholder farmers.
• Women are between 15-20% of landholders in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Women receive less than 10% of available credit and 7% of credit extension services.
• Women accounted for roughly a third of South Africa’s 847 000 new farming jobs in the first quarter of this year
