By Maphuti Machabaphala
Stephina Ntleleng Seabi, a crop production advisor stationed in the Capricorn District’s North Western Agro-Ecological Zone, Maraba-Mashashane Offices, has spent over a decade uplifting rural communities through her unwavering dedication to extension and advisory services. Her journey began with a passion for agriculture, nurtured through her studies in Plant Production Diploma at the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, Agricultural Management Honours Degree at the University of Limpopo, and further refined during her internship with Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) at Mankweng and later work at the National Department of Agriculture as an Agricultural Technician in the export services.
After returning to Limpopo, she embraced her calling to support local farmers—particularly women—through capacity building and mentorship. Stephina currently coordinates a special programme under PDARD-WEA-YEA, where she focuses on empowering backyard farmers to evolve into smallholder producers. Her proudest achievements include mentoring a primary school and a subsistence farmer that secured top positions in national and provincial agriculture competitions and guiding subsistence farmers toward commercial success, while attaining the best agricultural advisor award in the Capricorn District during the 2024 Extension and Advisory Awards.
Stephina’s work is driven by a belief that when women are empowered with knowledge, they uplift not only themselves but entire communities. Her efforts have helped women grow their produce, sell it, and use the profits to feed their families, educate their children, and become more self-reliant.
However, her journey hasn’t been without challenges. The demands of the job often mean she sees her family only on weekends. Long distances, limited growth opportunities, and safety concerns while assisting farmers in remote areas are just some of the obstacles she faces. Still, her resilience shines through. She calls for more support systems—like transportation, better office infrastructure, and training opportunities—to help women extension officers work more effectively.
Inspired by pioneers like Helen Joseph and Albertina Sisulu, Stephina urges young women not to fear agriculture. “Start where you are,” she says. “Let’s teach farmers to produce food for our communities and the most vulnerable.”
As Women’s Month is celebrated, she appeals to employers to place women closer to home when possible, and to stakeholders to support women farmers with production inputs, market access, and training. For Stephina, women in agriculture aren’t just farming—they’re transforming society, one harvest at a time.
Stephina acknowledged the support from her supervisors, Mr Makgato Raletjatji and Mr Mathanya Michael for the enabling support to perform her duties to the best of her abilities and is optimistic that growth is inevitable within the Agricultural Sphere as her work speaks for itself.
