Petunia Molea, a young woman farmer from Gumbu Village in Limpopo started Godzwana General Farming in 2017 when she was 27 years old. The business grew from one to 5 hectares of land and today, she employs two permanent employees and 15 seasonal workers.
Image: Supplied.
MOST South Africans know All Gold Tomato Sauce.
What many may not know is that some of the tomatoes used to make the household staple are grown by young women farmers from rural Limpopo.
As South Africa marks Youth Month, women such as Petunia Molea, 36, and Vhengani Ndou, 32, are among a growing number of young people turning to agriculture as a way to build businesses, create jobs and contribute to the country's food supply.
Molea, from Gumbu Village near Musina, started with a small maize garden at home before launching Godzwana General Farming in 2017 on a single hectare of land. Through reinvesting profits from each harvest, she expanded the business to five hectares and now supplies tomatoes to Tiger Brands for use in its All Gold Tomato Sauce.
Her farming operation employs two permanent workers and about 15 seasonal employees.
Vhengani Ndou, owner of Onay Farming, employs five permanent employees and around 30 seasonal workers. Her farm supplies tomatoes to Tiger Brands and provides practical workplace experience for agriculture students from the University of Venda.
Image: Supplied.
Several kilometres away in Muswodi Village, Ndou chose farming over a career as a qualified boilermaker and established Onay Farming in 2019.
Despite challenges accessing finance, she has grown the business into an enterprise that employs five permanent workers and around 30 seasonal employees. The farm also provides practical workplace experience for agriculture students from the University of Venda.
The women are among a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs helping to drive economic activity in rural communities while contributing to South Africa's food security.
Their success comes at a time when the agricultural sector is increasingly being promoted as a pathway for youth employment and entrepreneurship, particularly in provinces where job opportunities remain limited.
According to Tiger Brands, both farmers participate in its Hulisani Agricultural Development Programme, which supports emerging farmers with interventions aimed at improving productivity and sustainability.
Tiger Brands director of enterprise supplier development and transformation Maanda Milubi said young farmers had an important role to play in strengthening food security, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
Ndou said agriculture offered young people an opportunity to build a future for themselves while opening doors for others.
"Agriculture offers young people the opportunity to build a future for themselves while creating opportunities for others," she said.
Molea said farming required patience and commitment but could help transform lives and communities.
Their stories highlight how young women are carving out a place for themselves in an industry traditionally dominated by men, while creating employment and helping feed the nation.