The Women’s Voice Competition – an initiative to recognise the voice of women in agriculture on the impact of policy matters in their communities.
After a successful first competition hosted in 2024, Future Agri Perspectives is proud to announce the second Women’s Voice Competition with the focus on what women say about the impact of agricultural policy matters in their communities and the broader environment.
The Women’s Voice Competition seeks to create a platform for women in agriculture to discuss agricultural issues and ultimately influence public and industry discourse. It aims to encourage well-thought-out and accurate deliberation of topics relating to agriculture. The Women’s Voice Deliberation Competition wishes to encourage well-thought and accurate deliberation of the selected topic with practical examples. This competition seeks to create a platform where women in agriculture can become part of agricultural discussions and ultimately influence public and industry discussions.
Entrants will have the opportunity to share their views on any aspect impacting on their lives or careers in agriculture or affecting their rural communities or the environment in general, and to say how they would bring about change.
“The Women’s Voice Deliberation Competition provide the ideal platform and opportunity for women involved in agriculture to share their views on how boardroom decisions on policy matters impact their daily lives. We are interested to hear their perspectives on topical issues and how they feel they can contribute to shaping the future of agriculture in South Africa,” says Magda du Toit, one of the event organisers.
All women in agriculture aged 18 years and older may participate in this initiative. Participants can share their view and offer solutions regarding the chosen topic. These women may be farmers, farmers’ wives, women involved in agricultural or farming businesses, or work in an office on a farm.
Topics to deliberate may include:
· Advocacy in the sector to support farmers.
· Enabling development in rural communities.
· Elevating agriculture’s voice.
· Support to farmers entering the sector.
· Keeping agriculture real.
· Succession planning.
· The role of young people in agriculture.
· The energy and water challenges in rural areas.
· The impact of the lack of infrastructure in rural communities.
· The success of the family farming business.
· Rural safety.
· Health challenges in rural areas.
· Labour challenges that affect the farm.
· A sustainable environment.
Five finalists will be selected and invited to a prestige event in Johannesburg op 20 June 2025 where the winner and two runners-up will be announced. An independent panel of judges will evaluate the entries.
Entries are now open for the competition and the closing date is on Wednesday 30 April 2025. More information on the competition, as well as the entry form is available on the main page of www.farmingportal.co.za
The finalists in the 2024 competition were:
• Lindi Botha: agri-communication specialist
• Yolandi Kruger: founder and director of Dunamis Agri Advisory Solutions
• Michelle Marais: project coordinator at Urban Farmer
• Prudence Thulisile Mokwena: farmer and founder of RBKM Chickens
• Karen Truter: agriculturist
At the gala event held in 2024 at Villa Arcadia on the Hollard campus in Parktown, Johannesburg, Michelle Marais received her first prize. Marais elaborated on her passion for creating opportunities for farmers in Africa and stressed that although young people must be enticed to enter the agricultural sector, it remained important that they are made aware of all the realities as well.
“By sharing their insights, the finalists in the 2024 competition shed new light on many aspects impacting on agriculture,” says Andries Wiese, business development manager at Hollard and sponsor of the competition.
During the event women who played pioneering roles in agriculture will also be honoured. In 2024 Prof Estie van Marle-Köster, associate professor University of Pretoria; Dr Langa Simela, business development manager at ABSA; Mariana Purnell, former general manager Agbiz Grain; Dr Lukeshni Chetty, general manager SANSOR; and Prof Hettie Schönfeldt, University of Pretoria were honoured for the role they played throughout their career paving the way for the next generation of women in the agricultural sector.
Enquiries can be directed to: Hanlie Delport at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More about the organisers
Who is Future Agri Perspective?
Future Perspective is an initiative of like-minded individuals who are teaming together to present credible and scalable platforms for individuals in the agricultural value chain. These platforms facilitate a process for participants to present and voice insights and perspectives on relevant topics to stimulate debate and surface potential solutions, which might otherwise not have been tabled.
Our partners:
Hollard, Syngenta Seed, Empire Fleet solutions
Our supporting partners:
TLU, CRA Media
