Once excluded from formal markets due to limited training, technology and financial literacy, 25 women farmers from South Africa's Mpumalanga province are now supplying major retailers, school feeding schemes, and local lodges -- a testament to the transformative power of targeted investment in rural women.
On a farm in Marite village, Skhulile Malibe walks through rows of thriving vegetables. Not long ago, she had no way of knowing whether her farm was profitable.
"Before I joined the programme, I couldn't tell at the end of the day whether I had made money or not," she recalls.
Today, she meticulously records each transaction, tracks harvests, and has grown her workforce beyond its original three employees. She is on track to become a fully commercial farm.
Her neighbour and fellow graduate, Kolile Malibe, shares a similar story.
"It opened my mind," she says simply. "Now I'm becoming a commercial farmer and increasing my number of employees day by day."
These successes are not isolated breakthroughs. They are part of a women-focused agricultural initiative funded by the African Development Bank, the Climate Investment Fund, and Absa Bank, and implemented by UVU Africa. This programme operates under the South Africa Just Energy Transition Jobs First Project: Gender and Social Inclusion (SAJJOF), spearheaded by the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency. It has quietly redefined what is possible for rural women farmers in one of South Africa's most economically vulnerable provinces.
Breaking Barriers, Building Markets
Launched as a pilot programme in Bushbuckridge, the initiative addressed structural barriers that have long kept rural women on the margins of South Africa's agricultural economy: limited access to training, market opportunities, technology, and low financial literacy. Each of the 25 participants received comprehensive agricultural and business management training, one-on-one mentorship, and a tablet loaded with digital tools to manage operations, track expenses, and access real-time weather forecasts.
25 women complete an AfDB, Climate Investment Fund, and Absa Bank-funded agricultural programme delivered by UVU Africa in South Africa's Mpumalanga province For Gracious Masuku, from Belfast Trust village, the financial training was life-changing.
"My financials were not in order, and now I'm able to record them myself and maintain good cash flows," she says. "I'm building a system that will work long after I'm gone, so that someone after me can continue using it."
Gracious Masuku, a rural farmer from Mpumalanga, is one of 25 women empowered to break through market barriers and forge a stronger future in agriculture. Lara Rosmarin, Cluster Catalyst at UVU Africa, says the programme has exceeded expectations. "Over 90% of graduates now supply major retailers, agri-hubs, school feeding schemes, and local lodges, creating 66 new jobs through sustainable farming enterprises. This programme demonstrates that tailored training, mentorship, and digital tools can enable rural women farmers to enter formal supply chains and thrive," she says.
The impact extends to South Africa's $1 billion safari tourism sector. Nawsheen Elaheebocus, African Development Bank Task Manager for SAJJOF, explains: "The Greater Kruger safari tourism economy, which serves nearly two million visitors annually, and supports hundreds of luxury lodges -- represents a hospitality market estimated at over $1 billion per year, creating a significant opportunity for local farmers to supply high-value fresh produce," she said. "Through the SAJJOF project, women farmers in Mpumalanga are now able to enter this premium market, supplying high-end lodges directly and turning local agriculture into an inclusive economic opportunity."
Perhaps the most striking example is Smangele Makutu, who spent five years living on the streets before securing a 15-year agreement to farm on the grounds of her former high school. Her produce now supplies local supermarkets and contributes directly to agricultural education for current learners -- a full-circle story of restoration and purpose.
The programme outcomes are measurable: every participant reported improved farm layouts and higher yields, 92% actively diversifying crops, 77% of graduates have applied for funding or investment, and 66 new jobs have been created through sustainable farming enterprises. Five regional farmer clusters now enable collective market access and peer support.
Scaling Up
Given the pilot's success, the partners plan to expand the initiative across additional locations in Mpumalanga, deepening market linkages, broadening access to finance, and expanding digital literacy programmes. Future phases will introduce modern farming technology, value-added crop processing, and local collaboration hubs to foster innovation.
"Many farmers in this region have operated in a 'survive, not thrive' environment for generations," says Dheepak Maharajh, CEO of UVU Bio. "This pilot proves that with the right support systems, the path out of intergenerational poverty becomes tangible and measurable. With the right collaborators and partners, this represents the next step in building an agricultural ecosystem that is more competitive, resilient, and future-focused -- one that opens genuine economic pathways for rural communities in Mpumalanga."
The initiative forms part of South Africa's broader Just Energy Transition, a national effort to ensure that the shift away from coal-dependent energy benefits all communities.
Babatunde Omilola, Human Development Division Manager at the African Development Bank, emphasises the project's importance: "This initiative is crucial for a fair energy transition in South Africa, promoting job creation, gender equity, social inclusion, and ensuring everyone benefits from the green economy, particularly in Mpumalanga."
In Mpumalanga's fields, a new generation of women farmers is not merely surviving. They are building.
