Seeds of Change - Women in Agriculture

Maboshadi ‘Shadi’ Marumo is a Senior Business Analyst in the Commercial Development Banking division at Land Bank’s Northern Cape Provincial office. She joined the Land Bank team after gaining valuable experience in the commercial banking sector. Shadi holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours, specialising in Economics, from the University of the Free State.

In her role as Senior Business Analyst, Shadi’s primary responsibilities include assessing, motivating, and packaging credit applications, ensuring compliance and managing risk, as well as maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. She believes passionately in the role agriculture plays in South Africa’s economy. Looking forward, Shadi envisions funding becoming more accessible and widely promoted to encourage more individuals to embark on farming ventures. She foresees a future where financial support will not only help new farmers enter the industry but also assist them in growing their ventures into sustainable commercial businesses.

Shadi has seen first-hand the growing involvement of women in agriculture. "Not only are women employed in spaces that contribute towards food security, but some women are already farming in their personal capacity," she says. She has observed many smallholder women farmers who cultivate vegetables or crops on small plots of land, often less than 2 hectares, for home consumption. Over time, she expects more women will gain access to land and enter commercial farming.

Shadi acknowledges the challenges faced by small-scale development farmers, particularly in acquiring the financial and business management skills needed for successful operations. She advocates for more collaborations with companies, mentorship programmes, strategic partnerships, and training institutions to help farmers gain the knowledge and skills they need to grow their businesses.

To young women aspiring to enter the agricultural sector, Shadi’s advice is simple: “JUST START.” She encourages them to research the type of farming they want to pursue and seek out mentors if they feel uncertain. "All you have to do is just start small," she adds.

Reflecting on her current role, Shadi is motivated by the impact she can have on South Africa’s agricultural future, particularly in supporting historically disadvantaged individuals. She recalls encountering small-scale farmers over the age of 60 applying for financial solutions to acquire land or equipment. “That alone speaks volumes,” she notes, adding that such cases inspire her to contribute to projects that create employment and make a difference in communities.