In South Africa, women play an important role in agricultural production, making a significant contribution to food security, rural development and community resilience. Nevertheless, they remain largely excluded from agribusiness opportunities and formal markets due to structural inequality, limited market information and deep gender bias. Grasama Shell Trust promotes comprehensive and sustainable trade by enabling women to engage directly with market players, gain insight into procurement demand and effectively navigate the business landscape. Recent State Market Access Workshops in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng explain these initiatives and provide specific routes for women entrepreneurs to join their local supply chains.
Transformation from Talk: Market Access in Action
Last month, GMT held two important workshops in the Eastern Cape and Garten, strategically designed to help women entrepreneurs overcome barriers to market access.
In the Eastern Cape, 23 female entrepreneurs gathered at the Regent ICC in East London and were directly involved in the leadership of the Buffalo City Metro’s fresh produce market. An important highlight is the introduction of food hubs for small producers. Tandihopa, founder of Riverbend Agriculture in East London, highlighted the transformational potential of these hubs.
“Instead of going to the price range when farmers deliver produce to market agents, they can bring produce to food hubs and set prices. They can accommodate small quantities tailored to household consumption, allowing farmers to control pricing.
Participants openly discussed issues such as mismatched supply and demand, inconsistent production, and limited market visibility due to established networks. A collaborative spirit emerged as an entrepreneur who committed to a co-production model and recognized it as an important stepping stone to enveloping food hubs into the market.
The session also highlighted real challenges such as mismatched supply and demand, inconsistent production, and limited market visibility due to enthylenetide networks. However, the dialogue did not end there. Participants committed to a co-production model and recognized Food Hubs as a previously undeveloped, promising market access point.
In Johannesburg, female entrepreneurs toured Job Hague’s fresh produce markets to gain direct insight into quality standards, food safety protocols and financing options. This interaction revealed the procurement process and practical tools to meet the expectations of buyers. Sibongile Cele, founder of Green Tree Agent (PTY), shared valuable advice with fellow entrepreneurs.
“Our business is working to alleviate farmers’ logistical challenges, enhance market access and improve supply chains. Women entrepreneurs often underestimate produce or don’t fully understand market demand.
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The results of these workshops will help you build a stronger, more inclusive agribusiness ecosystem. By creating shared spaces for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration, the project is driving sustainable change for women in agribusiness.
Women have will, skills and products. All you need is access. Through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, trust helps level the playing field.
Lehlogonolo Ratlabyana, the trust’s programme officer, highlighted the urgency of investment in women-owned agricultural businesses, noting that access to capital and land ownership remains a major barrier. She called for the cooperation of collective stakeholders to ensure gender-sensitive land reform and address the socioeconomic and cultural obstacles essential to sustainable market growth for women in agribusiness. The project continues to promote lasting economic change and create meaningful opportunities.
