{"id":7826,"date":"2025-04-15T14:47:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gracamacheltrust.org\/?p=7826"},"modified":"2026-01-23T01:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:40:58","slug":"backing-bold-women-how-the-graca-machel-trust-is-driving-real-results-for-agripreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/featured\/backing-bold-women-how-the-graca-machel-trust-is-driving-real-results-for-agripreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"Backing bold women: How the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust is driving real results for agripreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Women in agribusiness across Africa continue to face entrenched systemic barriers. Although they make up over 60% of the continent\u2019s agricultural workforce, women receive less than 10% of available credit and control less than 20% of agricultural land (FAO, 2011<\/a>). These figures highlight a persistent gap in access to resources, opportunities, and support.<\/p>\n

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To help close this gap, the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust partnered with the\u00a02025 BRICS+<\/a>\u00a0Agriculture Investment and Trade Summit\u2014a high-impact platform to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and reshape global agricultural trade. Held from March 27 to 29, 2025 at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa, the summit brought together government officials, investors, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders from BRICS+ countries and beyond.<\/p>\n

Through the Fair For All project, the Trust supported 14 South African women agripreneurs to attend and exhibit their businesses at the Summit. These entrepreneurs also participated in pitch sessions and cross-border mentorship panels, building meaningful networks with potential investors and collaborators. Some secured investment leads, and mentorship offers, while others began deal discussions with international stakeholders.<\/p>\n

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One of the \u00a0standout moments came from entrepreneur Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses\u2019fikile Wines, who attracted interest from two Indian investors keen to explore opportunities with her Cape Town-based wine business. Her pitch at the BRICS PowerPitch session demonstrated the direct impact of targeted support for women-led ventures on global business expansion.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses\u2019fikile Wines<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

During the summit\u2019s opening plenary, GMT\u2019s Director of Programmes, Shiphra Chisha, emphasised the urgent need to address women\u2019s structural challenges in agriculture. \u201cIn certain parts of our country, women still face significant barriers such as access to land,\u201d she said. Chisha called for dismantling outdated norms and advancing strategic solutions to elevate women-led agribusinesses through market access, cross-border partnerships, and sustainable economic growth.<\/p>\n

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In echoing her message, GMT\u2019s Policy and Advocacy Consultant, Cleopatra Ngulube, joined the Expanding Global Trade panel to discuss the real-world obstacles African entrepreneurs face in accessing regional and global markets. Drawing from her expertise in trade facilitation, she stressed the importance of aligning regulatory standards and simplifying Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures within BRICS to unlock Africa\u2019s full trade potential. She shared an example: \u201cSouth Africa has faced repeated challenges exporting citrus to China. Despite the demand, strict cold treatment protocols and complex transport processes often cause delays\u2014sometimes leading to spoiled shipments and losses for exporters.\u201d She added: \u201cWhen regulations are more complex than the trade itself, we\u2019re not protecting markets\u2014we\u2019re paralysing them. Alignment isn\u2019t optional; it\u2019s the gateway to inclusive growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kwanele Nyawo, Founder of Khulu Wines in Cape Town <\/a>| Refiloe Molefe, Founder of Fountains of Youth Entrepreneurs Projects \u00a0in Johannesburg<\/a><\/p>\n

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The women entrepreneurs reflected on their experience: \u201cWe will put to good use all that we have learned and experienced in the last three days. It was a great networking opportunity\u2014we made lots of contacts.\u201d\u00a0Their feedback underscores the value of giving women the right platforms to engage, learn, and lead.<\/p>\n

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Pumeza Maseti, Fonder of Sinemihlali in East London\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0Elizabeth Peterson, Founder of Libby’s Pride Wines in Muizenberg, Cape Town<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust remains optimistic in its mission to advance women entrepreneurs and to champion inclusive, sustainable growth through advocacy, improved market access, and gender-lens investment. For these women agripreneurs, the BRICS+ Agriculture Investment and Trade Summit was a launchpad for new partnerships, investment opportunities, and a future where women lead Africa\u2019s agricultural transformation.<\/p>\n

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Tandi Hopa, Founder of Riverbend Farming in East London<\/a>| Nondumiso Pikashe, Founder of Ses’ Fikile Wines in Cape Town<\/a><\/p>\n

Lehlogonolo Ratlabyana, Programme Officer at GMT highlighted a critical insight from her summit experience: “It provided an excellent platform for entrepreneurs from various BRICS countries to showcase their businesses and products. However, it became clear that entrepreneurs urgently need enhanced coaching and mentorship to effectively pitch to investors. I call on investors and relevant stakeholders to intentionally deepen their engagement with entrepreneurs, fully understand their value propositions, and consciously commit to supporting local businesses.\u201d She added: \u201cTrue investment means buying local, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to significantly increase their turnover, secure market presence, and become prominent industry players.”<\/p>\n

\"\"Lungisa Nokwelo, Founder of Cberkie Projects and Innovations in Mthatha, Eastern Cape<\/a> | Ayanda Nayo, Founder of Potsdam Girls in East London\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Local excellence on display: Women agripreneurs showcased wines, organic farm produces from raw honey, jams, herbs, chillie sauces\u00a0 and spices, and herbal medicines at BRICS+ Summit<\/strong><\/h5>\n

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Sibongile Cele, Founder of Mcebo Unlimited Wealth (Pty) Ltd in Johannesburg\u00a0<\/a>| Verdra Brown, Founder of Last Lap Fresh Produce & Agroprocessing in \u00a0East London\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

More \u00a0entrepreneurs \u00a0reflected on their experience and impact of the project and being at the summit. They shared how the BRICS+ Summit and the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust created a space for networking, \u00a0potential investments and opened doors for more opportunities.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Sheila Hlanjwa, founder of \u00a0Lathitha Wines in Eastern Cape and Bukeka Buqwana of Zakhe Youth Development shared that the summit exposed them to networks and \u00a0opportunities.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Women in agribusiness across Africa continue to face entrenched systemic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[742,4,81,95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","category-featured","category-highlight","category-womens-economic-and-social-advancement-highlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}