By Stephanie Achieng’
Deep in the heartland of Gauteng province, South Africa, a young woman farmer is showing how agricultural biotechnology can boost farming by growing maize varieties that survive harsh droughts and resist destructive pests.
Aneli Mokoena is among a new generation of farmers in Africa embracing the transformative potential of agricultural biotechnology as the continent grapples with the twin challenge of food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
Recently, Mokoena showcased the benefits of science in agriculture to visiting delegates from Angola, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa at her maize field near the town of Bronkhorstspruit, situated in the city of Tshwane, about 50km east of South Africa’s capital Pretoria, in Gauteng province.
Agricultural biotechnology is increasingly boosting farming in some African countries by developing maize varieties that survive droughts and resist pests.
Biotech innovations lower production costs, drastically reduce pesticide use, protect harvests, increase food security and income for smallholder farmers.
Benefits of biotech maize (often referred to as genetically modified or GM maize) for African agriculture include climate resilience and drought tolerance, survival in dry spells and enhanced food security.
Biotech maize has built-in pest resistance, fights the Fall Armyworm and protects against the maize stalk borer. It also reduces pesticide reliance. Farmers can see higher economic returns through increased profitability and reliable grain quality.
South Africa has utilised GM maize for the last 29 years, boosting national crop yields and increasing sustainability for smallholder farmers in drought-prone provinces.
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya and Nigeria have made regulatory advancements to allow farmers to plant and sell these resilient, insect-protected and drought-tolerant varieties.
Mokoena’s farming journey reflects the transformative potential of agricultural biotechnology that has helped her sustain a thriving 650-hectare maize field, continuing her late father’s farming legacy.
For her and the maize farmers of Gauteng province, the thriving fields promise successful harvests – the result of years of hard work, determination and innovation through the adoption of agricultural biotechnology.
Mokoena’s story was one of the highlights of the “Seeing is Believing” biotechnology engagement with policymakers, regulators, scientists, extension officers and industry representatives in Bronkhorstspruit.
Stakeholders explored the role of agricultural biotechnology in improving productivity, strengthening food security, and enhancing resilience in farming systems.
Organized by AATF through the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the event combined technical presentations with field visits, as participants observed biotechnology applications in real production systems.
“Seeing is Believing” is an experiential biotechnology field tour and awareness initiative spearheaded by the AATF through the OFAB. It is designed to demystify agricultural science for policymakers, farmers, and the media.
The programme takes stakeholders directly to confined field trials, demonstration plots and research laboratories to experience scientific innovations firsthand. By seeing crops (like drought-tolerant maize or pest-resistant beans) growing in real conditions, participants gain empirical, evidence-based knowledge to support informed decision-making.
Mokoena’s farm demonstrated how agricultural biotechnology can contribute to transformation when integrated with good agricultural practices (GAPs), effective extension and advisory services, and access to finance.
A second-generation farmer, Mokoena assumed responsibility for the family farm in 2016 after her father passed on. He had already begun transitioning toward modern agricultural technologies.
Mokoena’s commitment to follow in her father’s footsteps was both a business decision and dedication to sustain the family’s agricultural enterprise.
She recalls how production before their farm adopted Bt maize was highly labour-intensive, particularly in weed management, which required significant manual input and increased production costs.
Farmers relied heavily on hired labour to cultivate fields and control weeds, adding to production expenses. The introduction of Bt maize significantly transformed farm operations by reducing labour requirements, lowering the need for crop protection products, and improving overall productivity.
“Since adopting Bt maize, I have achieved higher yields, reduced labour costs, and used fewer crop protection products,” she said. “The fields are cleaner, production is more efficient, and the returns are much better.”
Today, Mokoena manages 650 hectares of farmland, (500 hectares dedicated to crop production and 150 hectares for livestock
grazing). White maize is the principal crop, while soybean serves as an important second crop within her farming system.
Crop rotation is central to her production strategy. Rather than planting maize continuously, she alternates maize and soybean across different sections of the farm. Soybean provides an additional income stream and also contributes to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, helping improve productivity in subsequent maize crops while reducing pest and disease pressure.
Operating under a rain-fed production system, her farm is highly dependent on seasonal rainfall variability in an area that receives approximately 570 millimetres of rainfall annually. The farm’s performance is influenced by both weather conditions and management decisions. Mokoena says productivity is also strongly linked to GAPs, including timely planting, proper land preparation, soil testing, and appropriate fertilizer application.
According to Mokoena, maize yields have varied over the years, depending on rainfall and seasonal conditions, ranging from approximately five tonnes per hectare in some seasons to eight tonnes per hectare in favourable years. Achieving strong yields requires careful planning and disciplined farm management, from land preparation through to harvest.
Institutional and advisory support has contributed to the success of Mokoena’s farm, her extension officer playing a key role through technical guidance, training opportunities and development programmes.
“My extension officer has connected me to opportunities, provided advice, and encouraged me to participate in programmes to help me grow as a farmer.”
Through these networks, she has accessed financial institutions such as Khula Enterprise Finance and South Africa’s Land Bank, getting support to enable her to strengthen operations and scale production. Khula helped her develop funding applications and position her business for further growth.
Her experience illustrates a key message from the engagement: agricultural innovation is most effective when supported by an enabling environment that includes extension services, finance, markets and knowledge systems.
Looking ahead, Mokoena has set an ambitious goal of expanding her farming enterprise from 650 hectares to 1,000 hectares in five years. Investment, innovation and strong partnerships will be critical to achieving that vision.
Her farm provided direct insight to participants on how agricultural biotechnology contributes to improved farm performance when combined with GAPs and strong support systems.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock of Suleiman Masoud Makame describing the experience from the visit as transformative. He called for regional collaboration to advancing agricultural innovation for food security and productivity across Africa.
“Biotechnology development is a long-term process that requires sustained investment and partnerships. African farmers are not projects, and we must build sustainable financing models and increase public awareness if these innovations are to deliver lasting impact,” said Dr Kingstone Mashingaidze of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
The “Seeing is Believing” engagement reflected on the value of linking technical discussions with field-level experience. The story of a young farmer who turned innovation into opportunity through resilience, entrepreneurship and support systems left a lasting impression.
For AATF and its partners, the “Seeing is Believing” initiative reaffirmed the importance of experiential learning in strengthening informed decision-making on agricultural technologies. Connecting stakeholders directly with farmers, the programme demonstrated how science, policy, extension, and farmer agency intersect to drive agricultural transformation.
“Mokoena’s story demonstrates how strong family values can inspire future generations to view farming not only as a source of livelihood but as a noble and impactful profession that contributes significantly to society and the food that many people enjoy,” says Verenardo Meeme Ag Manager, OFAB at AATF
“Our hope is that these innovations will become accessible to millions of farmers across Africa who face similar challenges. However, regulatory barriers and insufficient political commitment continue to hinder the adoption of these innovations, preventing many African farmers from fully benefiting from their productivity,” says Meeme, adding:
“I urge decision-makers to create an enabling environment allowing farmers to access and utilise innovative technologies to accelerate agricultural growth and improve productivity. We have had a positive reception of the technology from participants and hope they can make this happen to their respective countries”.
Mokoena’s journey shows what is possible when farmers have access to appropriate technologies, knowledge systems, and institutional support. Her experience revealed the benefits of biotechnology and the broader ecosystem required to sustain agricultural progress. Truly, seeing is believing.
