In a striking example of what’s possible when opportunity meets support, 25 rural women farmers in Mpumalanga have successfully entered South Africa’s formal retail supply chain, a milestone that signals not just economic progress, but a transformation in how women participate in the agricultural economy.

This achievement is the result of a women-focused agricultural development initiative convened by UVU Africa, in partnership with Absa Bank, the African Development Bank and the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency. Designed as a pilot programme in Bushbuckridge, its goal was simple yet powerful: to equip rural women farmers with the skills, tools, confidence and connections needed to thrive as commercial producers.

The barriers facing women in agriculture are well documented, from limited access to training and markets to gaps in technology and financial literacy. This programme directly addressed those challenges by providing comprehensive agricultural training, business management skills, one-on-one mentorship, and digital tools, including tablets preloaded with agricultural apps and real-time weather data.

The results speak volumes:

• Over 90 % of graduates now supply major retailers, agri-hubs, school feeding schemes and local lodges, forging direct links into formal markets.
• The initiative has created 66 new jobs across sustainable farming enterprises, strengthening both local economies and household incomes.
• 100 % of participants reported improved farm layouts and higher yields, while 92 % diversified their crops and 77 % applied for funding or investment post-training thanks to enhanced financial knowledge.

Perhaps the most inspiring testament to this transformation is the story of Smangele Makutu. After five years living on the streets, she secured a 15-year farming agreement on the grounds of her former high school. Today, her farm not only supplies local supermarkets but also doubles as a living classroom where she supports agricultural education for young learners, a powerful demonstration of how opportunity, dignity and community impact can intersect.

The programme has also sparked collective action, with five regional farmer clusters established to enable collaboration, consolidate produce, and strengthen market access across the province. Encouraged by these outcomes, UVU Africa plans to scale this model to reach more rural communities across Mpumalanga. UVU Bio, the group’s agri-innovation arm, will lead the next phase, introducing modern farming technologies and helping farmers add value to their produce — from processing crops into higher-value products to creating local hubs for collection, processing and product development.

As UVU Bio’s CEO, Dr Dheepak Maharajh, articulates, “when the right support systems are in place, the path out of generational poverty becomes tangible and measurable.” This initiative has not only helped farmers grow crops, it has helped them grow enterprises, build resilient livelihoods, and contribute to shaping the future of agriculture in South Africa.