Rural women farmers in Mpumalanga have worked tirelessly on their small plots for years, producing food for their families and neighbours while struggling to enter formal markets.
However, thanks to a women-focused and forward-thinking partnership, many of these farmers are now supplying fresh produce to major retailers, lodges, agri-hubs and school feeding schemes. This significant shift started with a pioneering training programme designed specifically for them.
The initiative, organised by UVU Africa in partnership with Absa Bank, the African Development Bank and the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, aimed to address the skills, technology and market gaps that have historically hindered women in the agricultural economy. By the end of the pilot programme, 25 farmers had not only transformed their operations but also created 66 new jobs and secured positions within formal value chains, results that surpassed even the organisers’ expectations.
“The results have exceeded our expectations,” said Lara Rosmarin, cluster catalyst at UVU Africa. “Over 90% of graduates are now supplying major retailers, agri-hubs, school feeding schemes and local lodges. This programme demonstrates that with tailored training, mentorship and digital tools, rural women farmers can thrive and participate meaningfully in formal supply networks,” Rosmarin explained.
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Turning Skills into Market Power
Launched in Bushbuckridge, the programme tackled the interconnected barriers faced by rural women: limited access to agricultural training, lack of business and financial skills, insufficient market linkages and a widening technological divide. By providing hands-on instruction, personalised mentorship and digital tools, including tablets loaded with software and data, the programme helped farmers build the operational discipline needed to meet commercial standards.
Farmers now digitally record production activities, track expenses, document compliance and plan cropping cycles with greater precision. Real-time weather forecasts help them anticipate risks, and digital recordkeeping strengthens their ability to apply for finance and negotiate with buyers.
The impact is visible in the story of graduate Smangele Makutu. After spending five years living on the streets, she secured a 15-year agreement to farm on the grounds of her former high school. Today, her thriving enterprise supplies local supermarkets and doubles as a teaching space for young learners, a powerful symbol of how agricultural opportunity can restore dignity and seed community upliftment.
Key outcomes include 100% of participants reporting improved farm layouts and higher yields, 77% applying for funding or investment since completing the training thanks to enhanced financial knowledge, and 92% diversifying their crops. Five regional farmer clusters have been established, enabling collaboration and collective market access across Mpumalanga.
Each farmer also received sustained guidance from mentors specialising in agriculture, entrepreneurship and business management, a combination that strengthened operational confidence and long-term resilience.
Also read: Expert advice from Sylvester Lubambo, training and development manager at AFGRI Farmer Development
From Pilot to Provincial Rollout
Encouraged by the success of the pilot, UVU Africa plans to expand the initiative into more communities across Mpumalanga, strengthening market linkages, building financing pathways and deepening digital literacy.
UVU Bio, part of the UVU Africa Group, will lead the next phase. Beyond training, the organisation aims to introduce modern farming technologies and unlock opportunities for crop beneficiation. This includes supporting farmers to process their harvests into higher-value products, use crop waste productively, and establish local hubs where women can collect, process and innovate together.
Dr Dheepak Maharajh, CEO of UVU Bio, said many farmers in the region have operated in a ‘survive, not thrive’ environment for generations. “With the right support systems in place, the path out of generational poverty becomes tangible and measurable. This pilot proves what is possible,” he explained.
“In a province where rural women have long been excluded from commercial agriculture, this programme is doing more than building skills, it is shifting power. It is turning untapped talent into thriving enterprises, opening doors to formal markets and planting the seeds of economic transformation across Mpumalanga.”
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