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Women remain central to agricultural development and food security in South Africa, yet structural inequalities and limited recognition continue to suppress their potential contribution. The Vhembe Female Farmer Competition, organised by the Vhembe District Municipality and the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), serves as a platform to empower women, young women, and women with disabilities by recognising their role in local economic development. This paper explored the competition as an intervention that promotes women’s participation in agriculture, gender equality, fosters entrepreneurship, and contributes to poverty alleviation. Quantitative research approach was employed, where the simple random sampling technique was used to select 13 contestants across various categories. Data was collected through a structured survey and analysed using Excel to obtain the descriptive statistics. The study found no participants from Musina Local Municipality in the female farmer competitions and the Vhembe District Disability forum. Among female farmers, the best female worker (R2.5 million) and commercial producer (R1.5 million) recorded the highest annual turnovers. The young female farmer generated the turnover of R725,000.00 and notably created the highest over 60 seasonal and permanent jobs, demonstrating strong employment potential despite lower earnings as compared to the female worker and commercial producer categories. A financial literacy gap was evident in other categories. It is recommended that Musina Local Economic Development officers participate in preparatory meetings and mobilise farmers. Extension officers must provide financial management training to improve farm operations and employment opportunities.

This study evaluates the socioeconomic contributions of the Youth Employment in Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture (YEASA) program in Ekiti State, Nigeria. By enhancing local economic activities and addressing youth unemployment, YEASA provides a compelling model for sustainable development. This research examines its impact through the lens of employment generation, quality-of-life improvements, and economic contributions between 2017 and 2020. Data were collected from 125 beneficiaries and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods. Findings reveal significant improvements in living standards, confidence levels, and entrepreneurial ventures, with 94% of participants acknowledging YEASA’s role in job creation. However, challenges such as limited government support and financial barriers persist. This paper highlights the importance of tailored entrepreneurship development programs in fostering inclusive economic growth, offering actionable insights policy and program enhancement insights.

This study investigates factors limiting the entrepreneurial action of small-scale irrigation farmers (SSIF) at the Namibian Green Scheme Irrigation Project (GSIP).  Literature was reviewed on the concepts of the agricultural sector in Namibia, entrepreneurship action, and agricultural entrepreneurship in Namibia and elsewhere. The paper used a quantitative research approach to produce descriptive statistics of the agricultural entrepreneurs' experiences when starting and operating their projects. Data were collected using a questionnaire surveying the Etunda Green scheme irrigation project. The study used Microsoft Office Excel 2019 analysis tool pack to analyse the data. The key findings revealed that most SSIF operating at the project are obstructed by some elements of the policy environment, finance, business support services, market environment, infrastructure, and ecological factors. The study praises that sectoral connections should be strengthened, and government should prioritise and target elements that would improve the overall performance of the Namibian agricultural sector. The study offers policymakers and practitioners a blueprint for developing entrepreneurship in an agricultural context, specifically the Namibian Green Scheme Projects.

The study, using a comparative case study design, explored the attitude of local direct beneficiaries concerning the cessation of resources for two donor-funded agriculture-related projects in Tanzania from a Social Cognitive Theory perspective. Using a 5-point Likert Scale, data from 274 respondents were collected and analysed. Before data analysis, validity and reliability tests were performed and determined to be good. Descriptive statistics including percentages and frequencies were done. Additionally, a chi-square test was done to establish the association between variables. The findings show that local beneficiaries with higher self-efficacy and wider outcome expectancies had a positive attitude as opposed to their counterparts. Also, a positive significant relationship existed between self-efficacy and attitude (P<0.01) and between outcome expectancies and attitudes (P<0.05). Equipping local beneficiaries with the competencies needed to solve problems on their own and the continued functioning of VBAAs can aid local beneficiaries in maintaining a positive attitude post-project resources withdrawal. The study recommends that a transition phase is critical for project implementers to solidify benefits and benefit-enhancing behaviours. Also promoting community-based extension services by institutionalising VBAAs within the LGAs should be given a priority for enhancing sustainability.

This paper investigates constraints and complexities affecting entrepreneurial and Agri-business small-scale communal cattle farming success and sustainability in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The respondent entrepreneur farmers were randomly selected (n=55) amongst 183 other farmers for primary data collection. A semi-structured cross-language (English-Tshivenda) questionnaire was employed to gather the data. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were also employed. The results of this paper revealed that the entrepreneur farmers’ formal school educational levels and basic literacy skills in addition; subtraction; multiplication and division were reasonably higher while technological skills in farm risk management and production, and managerial competence in business financial skills; budgeting and marketing were low amongst the farmers. Government extension service could be employed to improve some of these deficient skills through skills training programmes for the farmers. Institutions of higher learning such as the University of Venda and Madzivhandila Agricultural College could be utilized for the trainings.