August is Women’s Month in South Africa — a time to reflect, honour, and celebrate the strength and achievements of women across the country. At Agri Skills Transfer, we turn our spotlight to the incredible women reshaping South African agriculture — from small-scale farmers feeding communities to agribusiness leaders redefining the future of food.
These women are not just cultivating crops — they are cultivating hope, resilience, and economic independence. Their stories are a powerful reminder that agriculture is not just a man’s world — it’s everyone’s world.
🌱 From Soil to Success: Meet the Women Who Grow Nations
- Mariana le Roux – From Citrus orchards to Global Markets
Rooted in Strength: Celebrating a Citrus Trailblazer this Women’s Month
Being a successful female farmer takes more than just knowledge — it demands courage, adaptability, and relentless resilience. This Women’s Month, we shine a light on one of South Africa’s local agricultural champions: Mariana le Roux, a force in the citrus industry and an inspiration to women across the country.
At Agri Skills Transfer, we are passionate about empowering women in agriculture. In fact, we were recently honoured with an African Excellence Award for our ongoing work to uplift women through agricultural education and training. We believe in celebrating the women who are rewriting the narrative — overcoming challenges and thriving in a space traditionally dominated by men.
One such story is that of Mariana le Roux.
After the passing of her husband, Hennie le Roux, in 2016, Mariana found herself at the helm of Bakgat Farm near Mooinooi in the North West — a citrus enterprise known throughout the country for its high-quality, disease-free trees. Hennie was a respected innovator in the citrus nursery industry, renowned for his contributions to food safety and biosecurity.
Stepping into his shoes without prior farming experience was no small feat. But Mariana didn’t just step in — she took charge. With determination and a self-taught approach, she immersed herself in the world of citrus and avocado farming. Today, she’s a successful grower of lemons, clementines, and avocados, and a mentor to emerging farmers in the Magaliesberg region.
And that’s not all — Mariana continues to nurture her creative side through her flourishing flower arranging and venue hire business, proving that farming and artistry can grow side by side.
Here’s to Mariana, and to every woman in agriculture who rises to the challenge, breaks boundaries, and keeps moving forward — no matter the odds.
Agri Skills Transfer salutes you. https://agriskills.net/
- Ipeleng Kwadi – The Cattle Queen of the North West province | Livestock Farmer | Cattle farmer.
At just over 30 years old, Ipeleng Kwadi is already making waves in South African agriculture — proving that age and gender are no match for grit, vision, and purpose. As a cattle farmer from Brits, Ipeleng has faced the harsh realities of climate change, livestock theft, and funding struggles, yet she continues to rise — expanding operations, mentoring young farmers, and leading by example. She runs Motsemotala Cooperative Farming, manages a second horticulture-focused farm, and is preparing to host U.S. agriculture students in 2026, showcasing the power of African women in farming.
Rooted in her rural upbringing in Rabokala and backed by a strong academic foundation, Ipeleng is deeply committed to building sustainable agriculture that feeds both people and opportunity. Her passion extends beyond production — she’s a mentor, an educator, and a conservationist who regularly welcomes learners to explore nature and farming firsthand. “I will never do anything apart from farming. I’m here to stay, to develop and mentor others,” she says. And she’s doing just that — paving the way for a new generation of smart, resilient, and unstoppable women in agri-business.
- Gugu Nzimande – Ultimate Growers Farming Pioneer
Joburg | Agri Entrepreneur | Female empowerment
🌿 Rooted in Heritage: Gugu Nzimande on Farming, Family, and the Future
Gugu Nzimande, founder and CEO of Ultimate Growers, grew up in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, where her father — a respected organic farmer — sparked her lifelong love for growing food. Now based in Johannesburg, she leads a dynamic agribusiness that focuses on sustainable crop production, consulting, and seedling development.
Gugu still applies her father’s organic methods, like mulching and homemade manure mixtures, and avoids harmful pesticides. She’s passionate about making farming accessible, especially to youth, and is developing farming kits for kids to encourage early awareness of sustainable food systems.
“I believe we were never meant to go hungry — we were given everything we need to grow food,” she says. “The key is learning to value nature, our heritage, and the wisdom of those who came before us.”
To Gugu, heritage means staying connected to your roots — and recognising that the knowledge of older generations is still relevant in solving today’s food and health challenges.
💡 Why Women in Agriculture Matter
Women make up more than 50% of the agricultural labour force in parts of South Africa.
Access to land, finance, and markets remains unequal — but women are pushing boundaries daily.
Female farmers tend to invest more in communities, health, and education when empowered with resources.
Agri Skills Transfer believes in unlocking this potential by offering training, mentorship, and market access programs tailored to women. We’re proud to have supported over 2,000 female agri-entrepreneurs over the past decade.
🌻 Words That Inspire
“I rise every morning with a plan for my farm and a plan for my future. Farming is freedom.”
—Gugu Dlamini, Vegetable Farmer, KwaZulu-Natal
“If you feed the soil, it feeds you. If you empower a woman, she empowers a nation.”
— Lana Hattingh Agri Skills Transfer graduate, Class of 2023
🌾 Get Involved
Are you a woman looking to start or scale your agricultural journey? Join Agri Skills Transfer’s Women in Agri Programme 2025. Whether it’s livestock, crops, aquaponics, or agribusiness management — we’re here to grow with you.
📧 Email: info@agriskills.net
📞 Call: 012 345 6789
🔗 Website: www.agriskills.net