Local economic impact of female farmer competitions on sustainable agricultural development in Vhembe district, Limpopo province

Résumé

Women remain central to agricultural development and food security in South Africa, yet structural inequalities and limited recognition continue to suppress their potential contribution. The Vhembe Female Farmer Competition, organised by the Vhembe District Municipality and the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), serves as a platform to empower women, young women, and women with disabilities by recognising their role in local economic development. This paper explored the competition as an intervention that promotes women’s participation in agriculture, gender equality, fosters entrepreneurship, and contributes to poverty alleviation. Quantitative research approach was employed, where the simple random sampling technique was used to select 13 contestants across various categories. Data was collected through a structured survey and analysed using Excel to obtain the descriptive statistics. The study found no participants from Musina Local Municipality in the female farmer competitions and the Vhembe District Disability forum. Among female farmers, the best female worker (R2.5 million) and commercial producer (R1.5 million) recorded the highest annual turnovers. The young female farmer generated the turnover of R725,000.00 and notably created the highest over 60 seasonal and permanent jobs, demonstrating strong employment potential despite lower earnings as compared to the female worker and commercial producer categories. A financial literacy gap was evident in other categories. It is recommended that Musina Local Economic Development officers participate in preparatory meetings and mobilise farmers. Extension officers must provide financial management training to improve farm operations and employment opportunities.

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