Society Talks 13: COVID-19 Impact on SADC Food Systems, Smallholder Agriculture & Policy Options

Women are most affected by the pandemic in this regard, as they are the backbone of African agriculture. Widely cited figures indicate that they produce 80% of the continent’s food, contribute 60 – 80% of the labour force in agriculture, and spend up to 60% of their time on agricultural activities.

This #SocietyTalks webinar will consider challenges specifically confronting smallholder farmers, particularly women in agribusiness in Southern Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and key policy interventions required for SADC to address the challenges

Moderated by Bronwyn Nielsen - Founder & CEO: Nielsen Network

Participants are

• Mrs Graça Machel - Founder, Graça Machel Trust; Chair, Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS)
• Domingos Gove - Director of Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources , SADC Secretariat
• Ruth Hall - Chair and a professor at Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
• Elizabeth Swai - Founder Member of African Agribusiness Academy, Head of Africa Women in Agribusiness
• Beatrice Makwenda - Head of Policy and Communication of the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi & coordinator of Rural Women’s Assembly in Malawi.