South Africa's agriculture remains an important sector of the economy with a growing number of women entering the agricultural space and acing it.

Here are five women changing the agricultural landscape in South Africa:

• Mmabatho Morudi owns a beekeeping and agricultural produce business, Iliju Bee Farm.

• Jacky Goliath started De Fynne Nursery as a backyard garden in 2001.

• Ingrid de Waal is the owner of the wine and lavender farm Canette Vallei.

• Megan Angus is the owner of Woodview Wagyu which specialises in Wagyu and Angus cattle.

• Thato Moagi’s Legae La Banareng Farms is a commercial mixed farming operation that focuses on livestock and crop production.

For those interested in joining the ranks of these pioneering women there are various funding opportunities which are set up for women entrepreneurs.      

New This Week (15 August 2023)

• How to Start a Lawn Care Business

• How to start a Fumigation Services Business

• Everything You Need to Know About the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) Funding

Five Farming Businesses You Can Start in South Africa South Africa's agricultural sector is highly diversified and remains an important part of the economy holding great potential to reduce poverty. Although grains and cattle often come to mind first when thinking of the South African landscape agricultural trends change and many options hold the potential to make a very decent profit. 

Farming opportunities you might have overlooked:

• Pig farming is a lower-cost/higher-yield option compared to many other types of livestock farming and the demand for pork in the country is always high.

• Mushroom farming remains relatively niche in South Africa despite the rise in popularity of mushrooms among South African consumers. This demand is expected to grow in the coming years so starting a button farming business is worth considering.

• Dairy farming continues to be a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs in South Africa as it is considered one of the largest agricultural industries in the country.

• Cattle farming forms an important part of South Africa’s agricultural landscape. If properly approached, it can be a highly profitable and rewarding type of farming to get into. 

• Crop farming is one of the largest agricultural industries in South Africa. It involves a plant product, such as grain, fruits and vegetables, that can be grown and harvested to be sold for profit.

If any of these options interest you be sure to check out how you can fund your agricultural dreams below:

Why social media is not working for you

Digital marketing provides businesses with the opportunity to engage with customers in a more personal and meaningful way. Social media falls under this umbrella and is how many sales are made and relationships are built. However, what do you do if this digital strategy is not working for you? 

Things you could be doing wrong on social media:

• You’re Pushing Your Products Too Hard – Being too sales-orientated can annoy your audience.

• You’re Not Considering the Entire Customer Journey –  Not everyone on your page wants to buy right away, so give them a reason to stay on your page.

• You’re Not Social Enough – Remember to engage with your audience

• You’re On the Wrong Channels  –  Instead of trying to cover all of your social media bases, rather choose one or two channels to focus on and build a meaningful and highly engaged audience on these channels.

• You Don’t Use All The Available Features – By actively experimenting with new features and developments, you’ll have a far greater chance of cracking social media algorithms and boosting your popularity.

For a more in-depth look at why your social media strategy is not working, see below: 

Female Entrepreneurship and Funding

This Women's Month we focus on women who are making a difference in business. In this downloadable e-book learn the secrets of entrepreneurship and funding from:

• Salamina Mosese - Sorele Media

• Stacey Brewer - SPARK Schools

• Tlalane Ntuli - Yalu

• Mukundi Lambani - Ambani Africa