GALLERY: Planting day for African Women in Agriculture
“We want to teach young women to farm because a lot of them are not exposed to farming."
Representative from African Women in Agriculture (AWiA) Agnes Hove explained how they are preparing for World Food Day on October 16.
“We are planting in celebration of World Food Day. We want to raise awareness among farmers who do not have access to funding, who don’t understand that agriculture is a viable means of earning a living, especially for young black women like us,” said Hove.
The day of planting took place at TLC Children’s Home in Bronkhorstfontein, Eikenhof, with the aim to teach people they can grow their food and also earn a living from selling their crops.
“We are an NPO that has registered in 2018. We have been planting on this piece of land that isn’t not ginormous, but we get a substantial output from this land.
“We want to teach young women to farm because a lot of them are not exposed to farming. They don’t think farming is something to consider.”
She said through this project they have planted beetroot, peas, lettuce, onions, spinach and other vegetables.
“We also want to inspire corporates to come and support young women who want to go into farming,” she said.
“Farming is expensive, and with corporates on our side, it will assist with funding with a lot of young women in farming.”
Their planting day happens mostly every second year but they are planning to do it annually. Agnes said their programme consists of women but they get help from men as well.
They also had the services of an expert who assisted them when it came to where they should be planting.
“We would like to thank farmer Tim Abba for advising us on how we should be planting. Without him we would not be where we are with this initiative today,” said Hove.
