Musina – Young women across South Africa are increasingly turning to agriculture as a path to entrepreneurship, job creation and community development, contributing to the country's future food security while strengthening local economies.
In Limpopo, Petunia Morea and Bungani Ndou are part of a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who are building sustainable agricultural businesses and creating job opportunities in rural areas.
Petunia Morea, 36, from Gunbu village near Musina, started her farming journey by planting a small cornfield at her home.
Inspired by her mother’s passion for farming, she founded Godzwana General Farming in 2017 on just one hectare of land.
By reinvesting the income from each harvest, she expanded her business to five hectares and now supplies tomatoes to the Tiger brand, producing their iconic All Gold Tomato Sauce.
Her company currently employs two full-time employees and 15 seasonal workers.
Bungani Ndu, 32, from Mswodi village a few kilometers away, chose farming over a qualified career as a boilermaker and founded Onai Farming in 2019.
Despite facing funding challenges, she built a growing company that employs five full-time employees and about 30 seasonal workers.
Her farm supplies tomatoes for the Tiger brand and provides hands-on work experience for agriculture students at the University of Venda.
Both women are participants in the Tiger Brand Furisani Agriculture Development Program, which supports emerging farmers with interventions aimed at improving productivity, sustainability and long-term growth.
“Young farmers have a key role to play in strengthening South Africa's food security, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth,” said Maanda Mirvi, Director of Enterprise Supplier Development and Transformation at Tiger Brands.
“Through the Tiger Brand Furisani Agriculture Development Program, we aim to provide emerging farmers with support that will help them build sustainable businesses for the future and strengthen local agricultural value chains that support our businesses and the communities in which we operate.”
Ndou and Molea's journey highlights how agriculture offers young people, especially women, the opportunity to run successful businesses, while also creating jobs and contributing to the economic life of their local communities.
“Agriculture provides young people with the opportunity to build their future, and at the same time provides opportunities for others,” says Ndu.
“Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with perseverance, persistence and a willingness to work hard, it is possible to build a sustainable business and make a lasting impact on your community.”
Morea believes that agriculture can play an important role in empowering youth and strengthening rural communities.
“Farming is not easy, but with perseverance, dedication and hard work, you can build something meaningful and create opportunities for yourself and others,” she says.
