rural women_sustainability

Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future:

Building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and caring for land.

In the vast landscapes of Southern Africa, rural women are often the unsung heroes driving the country’s agricultural progress. Besides often being the breadwinners for their families (as many as 47.7% of households in rural areas in South Africa are led by women), they are also the growers of the produce and the makers of the bread that sustains and nourishes their families.

It’s a harsh fact that the effects of climate change - like increased temperatures and changing rainfall patterns affecting crop yields - are felt more keenly by these rural women.  Their agricultural dependence, living conditions, and marginalisation expose them to a greater degree of changes due to climate, loss of diversity, and pollution. Their lack of finance further constrains them from entering the small-scale and emerging commercial agricultural value chain, in addition to facing challenges like poor infrastructure and lack of transport, electricity, access to water, and markets. Furthermore, a patriarchal socio-economic system often inhibits land governance or ownership in the communal areas.

The theme for the International Day of Rural Women 2024 is “Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building Climate Resilience, Conserving Biodiversity, and Caring for Land.” So, as they work to produce the food that sustains their families and whole communities,  these women farmers have learned how to cope with and adapt to climate change by practising sustainable agriculture in harmony with nature. Sometimes with the help of extension officers from agricultural departments, but often through bringing ancestral knowledge and practices to the fore. Their resilience and fortitude on the frontlines of the climate crisis position them uniquely to be agents of change — to help find ways to mitigate the causes of global warming and adapt to its impacts on the ground; and, in turn, to pass on this knowledge to next generations.

Rural women sitting on logs


Sappi, a key player in the region's rural sector, acknowledges this vital role and aims to support and enable these women. This commitment gains further importance around mid-October when the United Nations celebrated the International Day of Rural Women on 15 October and World Food Day on 16 October. These back-to-back observances highlight the critical contributions rural women make in agricultural production, food security, and nutrition.

With approximately 4,000 rural women employed directly or indirectly by Sappi Forests nationwide, the company is committed to providing decent, equitable work opportunities to members of neighbouring communities.

Additionally, around 1,500 women are actively involved in Sappi's Khulisa programme—an enterprise development initiative that empowers women growers to utilise their land for planting eucalyptus trees. Sappi supports this by providing sponsored seedlings, technical advice, and training, along with guaranteed market access by purchasing the timber at market-related prices. Given the long growing cycle of trees, Khulisa growers are encouraged to diversify their land use. They grow additional crops to sustain their families and participate in cooperatives to scale up vegetable and poultry production for wider distribution and resale. This holistic approach not only bolsters their income but also strengthens food security and community resilience.

A recent innovative intervention that stands out is the Ngodwana Aquaponics project. Amidst the alarming rising youth unemployment rate, Sappi has been channelling its efforts towards enabling young people economically by establishing a community-operated aquaponics farm in Eland’s Valley, Mpumalanga. This project not only addresses youth unemployment but also enhances local food security by providing affordable, high-quality protein through locally farmed Tilapia Rendalli fish.

In its initial phase, the project onboarded 30 local youths, equipping them with skills in aquaculture, vegetable, and herb production. The project also diversified its offerings with high-end artisanal products such as macadamia pesto, grapefruit marmalade, piquant capsicum peppers, tomato jam, and hot chili sauce, ensuring overall profitability and affordable pricing.

Growing vegetables


Sappi’s commitment extends to supporting emerging farmers with access to land for agricultural projects. This initiative embodies the concept of shared value: supporting agricultural endeavours empowers communities and allows Sappi to explore supplementary agri-business opportunities, using these projects as a market testing ground.

One shining example is the peanut farming venture initiated by a group of women on Sappi’s land. In 2018, Ms. Ntombiyenkosi Mbuyazi and four other women began cultivating peanuts on a newly planted Sappi compartment near their community in Shikishela, Mtubatuba, northern KwaZulu-Natal. Since then, Sappi has expanded the project, providing more land and sponsoring seeds benefiting 150 participants across the Palm Ridge (Mtubatuba) and Salpine (Sokhulu) areas—both adjacent to Sappi. This initiative is a perfect example of a win-win situation: while Sappi offers free land access, reducing its weed control costs, the women earn profits during harvest time. Moreover, the peanut plants' roots enrich the soil with nitrogen, benefiting the trees.

Another inspiring story is that of Ziningi Mazibuko from Mphithini, near Bulwer in KwaZulu-Natal. Thanks to training from Sappi’s Abashintshi programme and guidance from Department of Agriculture extension officers, Ziningi supports the Mphithini Cooperative with administrative duties and market sourcing for their produce. The Cooperative, consisting of 8 members, focuses on sugar beans and maize production. Sappi is in the process of approving and installing an irrigation system that will further benefit the members of the Cooperative.

groundnuts


“Youth generally consider farming as being for the older generation, not realising the potential in agriculture,” says Ziningi. “I want to change that mindset and show that by participating in community initiatives and becoming commercial farmers, they can secure their futures.” By promoting the Cooperative’s plans, Ziningi’s efforts result in job creation and contribute to economic growth and food security in the region.

In supporting rural women and their contributions, Sappi demonstrates that these initiatives not only benefit the participants and their families but also create a ripple effect of prosperity and sustainability within the broader community. We believe it is crucial to recognise and appreciate the efforts of these women, scale up projects that address food security, and build communities that are resilient to climate change, while also honouring and protecting the environment and protecting our country’s rich biodiversity.

Read about these and other initiatives in the Sappi Southern Africa Corporate Citizenship report at this link : https://bit.ly/4eiAsIT