On 19 August the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, embarked on an outreach programme as part of celebrating women in the agricultural sector. The main objective of this initiative was to broaden the effort to recognise and celebrate women’s contribution to the agricultural sector.
By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming
Dr Böhmer School Of Skills Showcases Agricultural Education For Special Needs
The first stop was at Dr Böhmer School of Skills in Bloemfontein, which offers an agriculture programme for children with special educational needs. The Minister, together with the acting HOD for the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Tshepo Mabilo, were taken on a tour of the school. They also engaged with learners and gained more insight into what is done at the school on a daily basis.
During his engagement with the learners, Minister Steenhuisen emphasised the importance of youth participation in agriculture, explaining the department’s commitment to supporting emerging farmers. “We’ve got a number of programmes in the department that are [focused on] getting young farmers growing. We have a blended finance scheme where we put money in with the Land Bank to help get start-up capital. We’ve got on-farm support too,” the Minister told the students.
He highlighted specific examples of government assistance. “One of the farms we’re visiting later today, Lebusa Farm in Swartkoppies, is a farm where we put in fencing and capital equipment to help grow it. But we need to get younger farmers through because our farming generation is rather old and rather male. So that’s why we need to have younger people coming through.”
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Modern Agriculture Extends Beyond Traditional Farming
The Minister addressed common misconceptions about modern agriculture, telling the learners: “And agriculture is not just about digging in the soil. It’s about economics. It’s about science. It’s about weather. It’s about soil. It’s about so many things. I see things like drones, everything. I mean, that’s the way things are moving. So there are huge opportunities for young people in the agri space.”
Minister Steenhuisen emphasised agriculture’s crucial role in South Africa’s economy, noting: “And agriculture is a huge driver of our economy in South Africa. The only reason we had some positive economic growth in the last quarter was because of agriculture.”
Award-winning Farmer Mimie Jacobs Shares Her Journey
The second stop was at Rosemead Farm, owned by Mimie Jacobs, a business leader and award-winning farmer. Minister Steenhuisen paid a courtesy visit to Ms Jacobs at her 165ha farm near Brandfort.
After 20 years in banking, Ms Jacobs built a thriving agribusiness producing lucerne, teff and pecan nuts. Crowned Free State Female Farmer of the Year in 2016, she also founded the Free State Chamber of Commerce and Industry and serves on the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) board. The survivor of a brutal farm attack in 2020, her resilience and mentorship continue to inspire women in agriculture across South Africa.
Family Legacy Shapes Agricultural Passion
During the visit, Ms Jacobs shared her family’s rich agricultural heritage, recounting her father’s farming legacy. “He made his own quivers. My father farmed on a scale that neither myself nor my three brothers did. We are 10 children – five brothers, five sisters. He put us all through school,” she reflected.
When asked about her father’s farming activities, Ms Jacobs explained the diversity of his operations: “He farmed with every crop. That’s why I love crops. He farmed with crops such as maize, wheat and barley, and he also had livestock. Dairy farming was his passion as well.”
She proudly shared a remarkable family achievement that highlighted their agricultural excellence: “When I won the Free State Female Farmer of the Year Award in 2016, that same year, my brother won the Dairy Farmer from ARC [award], provincially and nationally. It’s a passion.”
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Breaking Barriers As A Woman Of Colour In Agriculture
Speaking to Minister Steenhuisen, Ms Jacobs candidly addressed the challenges faced by women in the agricultural sector, particularly as a woman of colour. “It was difficult. It still is difficult. Two things – I’m a woman and coloured. So, I must work twice as hard to make myself known. But also the community around me, I had to prove myself to them,” she said.
She recounted a pivotal moment that marked her acceptance within the farming community: “And I had a neighbour across the river who always drove past our farm. One day he stopped by my place and that day, I was harvesting my beans, which I grew for Tiger Brands. So, he came and said to me, ‘Woman, your beans look good.’ Then I knew I had been accepted. So that was the best thing I’ve felt. And it was the best honour I’ve ever had…”
Ms Jacobs went on to acknowledge the crucial support received from government departments on her farming journey.
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Agriculture Drives Economic Growth And Job Creation
Minister Steenhuisen outlined agriculture’s broader economic potential, emphasising both domestic food security and export opportunities: “So we’ve got to make sure that we are able to produce food for our people, but also that we are looking for other markets for export of our products to other countries that don’t have the skills and the land that we have to be able to do it.”
The Minister concluded his conversation with an inspiring message about agriculture’s role in job creation and economic development: “So the sky’s the limit. You work hard. Get assistance from the government. Get out there and get farming because you’re also the biggest job creators. You know, as you can see, it’s very labour-intensive. So you need to hire people. And when you hire people, you create jobs. And that’s very important for us as well.”
The Minister’s last stop was at Lebusa Farm in Swartkoppies, which is owned by Tiisetso Lebusa, a young farmer working tirelessly to contribute to the agricultural sector in the province.
