Eastern Cape Celebrates Women’s Day with Empowerment for Female Farmers
Alice, Eastern Cape – The University of Fort Hare Sports Centre in Alice came alive as the province celebrated Women’s Day 2025 under the leadership of Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane. The celebration was held under the national theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, aligning with the global call to accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The event highlighted the crucial role of women in agriculture and rural development, with a strong focus on empowerment, sustainability, and economic transformation.
MEC for Department of Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, took centre stage in empowering women farmers by handing over two tractors to the Queens Traditional Leadership in the Amathole District. This initiative supports communal farming, benefits multiple households, increases production capacity, and strengthens rural food systems.
The celebration also featured symbolic handovers as part of the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing empowerment programmes. These included:
• 13 Nguni Cows to Women Farmers – aimed at improving livestock breeds, herd quality, and promoting commercial livestock production.
• Two Sewing Machines – to support agricultural cooperatives engaged in value addition, agro-processing, and garment production, thereby creating income diversification opportunities for rural women.
The Women Entrepreneur Awards segment honoured outstanding women-led agricultural enterprises, recognising their resilience, innovation, and role in transforming rural economies.
The event was further enriched by an exhibition area, where various government departments, stakeholders, and NGOs showcased their services, products, and support programmes available to women in agriculture and rural communities. These exhibitions provided valuable networking opportunities and information sharing for attendees.
Impact of the Initiatives:
• Economic Empowerment: Creation of sustainable production, increased incomes, and new market opportunities.
• Sustainability: Growth of rural agricultural economies through year-round support programmes.
• Social Transformation: Strengthening women’s roles as leaders, innovators, and equal partners in agricultural development.
Premier Mabuyane emphasised that the province’s support for women is not limited to Women’s Day but is a continuous effort throughout the year to equip them with tools, resources, and opportunities to thrive.
With these initiatives, the Eastern Cape is building an inclusive agricultural sector where women are central to growth, innovation, and food security.
