KZN Agriculture MEC Honours Women Driving Food Security

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recently hosted its inaugural Phezukomkhono Female Entrepreneur Awards, celebrating women making a significant impact across the agricultural value chain in KwaZulu-Natal.

The awards ceremony took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban and recognised female farmers, agri-processors, and agricultural entrepreneurs contributing to food security, job creation, and rural economic development.

Leading the event was MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, who emphasised the critical role women play in strengthening the province’s agricultural sector. The ceremony was also attended by traditional leadership and dignitaries, including Queen Nomzamo Zulu, Inkosi Sifiso Shinga, and representatives from the KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional and Khoi-san Leaders.

Recognising Women Across the Agricultural Value Chain

Speaking at the event, MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said the awards were established to honour the contributions of women, youth, senior citizens, and women living with disabilities who are actively involved in agriculture.

“We have conceptualised these awards to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of women in the agricultural sector through their work in food security, job creation, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. Their roles are vital, and we must continue encouraging greater participation,” she said.

She noted that empowering women in agriculture remains essential to closing gender gaps in food production and rural economic participation.

Land Access Still a Major Challenge

The MEC highlighted land access as one of the key barriers facing women farmers, linking the challenge to historical inequalities that continue to affect land ownership patterns.

She referenced ongoing land reform programmes led by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, noting that while progress has been made since 1994, women still hold a disproportionately small share of agricultural land.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, women globally own less than 2% of land, despite producing between 60% and 80% of food in many rural communities.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa also called on traditional leaders to release more land for rural women to expand agricultural production.

Funding Support for Women and Youth Projects

The department has committed financial support toward inclusive agricultural development. During the previous budget cycle, R16.5 million was allocated to projects owned or operated by vulnerable groups.

Current departmental targets include:

• 59 women-owned agricultural projects
• 39 youth-led agricultural projects

These initiatives cover a range of interventions across crop production, livestock, and agri-processing.

R1.6 Million in Awards to Boost Agricultural Enterprises

The inaugural awards distributed a total of R1.6 million in prize funding across several categories, including Best Female Farm Worker, Best Subsistence Producer, and Best Entrepreneur in Agronomy Processing.

The funding is expected to help recipients expand production, improve processing capacity, and strengthen their agricultural enterprises—further contributing to provincial food security and rural economic growth.

The Phezukomkhono Female Entrepreneur Awards are set to become an annual platform recognising the growing influence of women in agriculture across KwaZulu-Natal.