Women becoming increasingly important in agriculture

Women play an increasingly important role in agriculture in South Africa, and also in the Potchefstroom area, where there are many women farmers.

Dr Morategi Mojanaga, North-West University (NWU) alumna and chief animal health technician at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, believes women in agriculture have powerful stories to tell, not only about the role they play in agriculture but also the role they play in society.

“The role women play in agriculture is changing. Not only are they taking on larger and more defined roles on farms and in agribusiness, but more and more women are also becoming key leaders in the agricultural industry,” said Dr Mojanaga.

Women have formed the backbone of every successful agricultural operation and have played a critical part in the farming and agriculture industry across South Africa for centuries according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). A statement echoed by Mable Schoeman, a crop bacteria tester in the entomology department of Senwes.

“When you are in the industry you notice the difference people make, you notice the impact some people have on communities and on food security, and I am proud to be able to say that a large number of these wonderful individuals making a positive difference in the communities are women,” added Schoeman.

The North-West University boasts a large number of individuals who have made a big impact on the agriculture industry of the Potchefstroom community, with the engineering faculty’s recent Fundamental Engineering Application Programme (FEAP) project getting involved with the Itsoseng Women’s Project.

The project is all about food security, inventive ways to grow crops and getting extra money through recycling. The programme sets out to teach members of the community how to use inventive ways to water crops, sustain crops and prepare land in a way that will ensure the land can be re-used in future seasons. Furthermore the NWU also has a large number of faculty and student contributors to the agricultural activities of Potchefstroom.

The preparation of classes, online teaching, compiling and evaluating assessments doesn’t stop Dr Menini Gibbens, a post-doctoral fellow and part-time lecturer at the North-West University, from living out her passion in making a difference in the industry she loves.

“One of the main reasons I continue in this area is because I especially enjoy improving the lives of communities,” said Dr Gibbens, who specialises in the urban and regional planning profession which is a crucial part of farming as they lay out suitable grounds for agricultural activities.

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As time passes and the agricultural community grows, so does the role of women in agriculture. Elmarie van der Merwe, a current NWU student working on her honours degree in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), believes that women have the capacity to take up big roles in the agricultural community.

“The role of women in agriculture have started to diversify. I know of female agriculturists, as well as plant breeders. I also know of a lot of women in management positions in agricultural settings. Therefore the role of women certainly is not limited in the agricultural field,” said Van der Merwe.

Anrea Serfontein, a cattle farmer on a Potchefstroom farm who starts every morning by making sure all her sheep and goats are fine, believes that women are cut out for the agricultural industry and it’s extremely demanding and fluctuating schedule.

“You have to be extremely hardworking without losing the goals you have in mind. The farming life isn’t one that you fit around your schedule, it’s one that consumes your schedule and women are ready to lead the way and make sure things get done,” said Serfontein.

In other communities around the world the impact of women on the agricultural sector is positively felt. Sonia Eberhardt, the Namibian Agricultural Union’s Agricultural Woman of the Year in 2019, is set out to change the opinions of people who believe farming is a man’s occupation.

“The idea that farming is not a women’s job must be seriously reconsidered, as with any other job, women are punctual and hands on. When they put their mind to it women can be successful and should be utilized to the max,” said Eberhardt.

Mabel Schoeman’s top 5 tips for conserving water

It is believed that almost 70% of Potchefstroom’s fresh water is used by the local agricultural industry. An estimated 40% of that is wasted; either by evaporation, spills, or absorption deep down in the soil. Now, in the hot summer months, it is more important than ever to conserve our precious water. Here are Mabel Schoeman’s top ways of saving on water:

• Cover crops. Planted to protect soil that would otherwise go bare, cover crops reduce weeds and help stop erosion and compaction which allows water to infiltrate the ground easier.
• Schedule watering. Intelligent water management is the sustainable and proper management of water which includes the use of water at the right time and in the right amount.
• Rotate grazing. Rotational grazing is a process in which livestock are moved between fields to help promote pasture regrowth which also makes it easier for water to enter the ground and prevents evaporation.
• Use drip irrigation. Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to a plant’s roots during the cooler times of the day, minimising water loss.
• Store water. Properly managed ponds create a natural habitat for wildlife while also helping farmers minimise their need and impact on the surrounding watersheds.