Peters, M. J.Nkabinde, Lerato Patience2023-09-202023-09-202022http://hdl.handle.net/11660/12224Dissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2022Smallholder farmers play a crucial role worldwide in food security and economic growth. The study explores the transformation of women who are smallholder farmers to become commercial farmers, focusing on the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State. However, women smallholder-farmers encounter numerous challenges that hinder the process. The study investigates inhibiting factors and identifies success factors that can accelerate transformation. Qualitative research was employed to gather data in the study using semi-structured interviews. The methodology employed assisted the researcher in discovering why women smallholder-farmers transform to become commercial farmers, the challenges inhibiting transformation, and the success factors contributing to successful change. Recommendations are made based on the results obtained during the interviews. These include doing due diligence with regards to lack of natural resources. As well as women smallholder farmers establishing and creating value chains in the area where they live. Furthermore, the study recommends that both the formal markets and women smallholders should enter into memorandum of understanding in terms of the specifications of agricultural produce. Results showed that more still needs to be done to avail resources and provide access to markets to transform women in smallholder farming to commercial farming.enSmallholder-farmerscommercial farmingcommercial farmerscontract farmingcooperativesExtension Servicesaccess to the marketsresourcesagricultural organisationsvalue chainsfarm diversificationDissertationUniversity of the Free State