LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE
LEADERS IN AGRICULTURE Improving lives through agriculture Women lead the way to well-being She dreamt about making a difference through her life’s work, and with agriculture’s essential role in sustaining human life, AB InBev’s Aviwe Mahanjana is doing just that. As Alternative Crops Researcher Team Lead for the AB InBev Africa Zone, Mahanjana is responsible for planning, co-ordinating and executing sorghum variety selection trials as well as crop management trials in Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia and South Africa. She is based in Johannesburg. “We are working towards the common goal of selecting sorghum that has high yields and good brewing quality, and improving sorghum productivity through good agronomic management practices,” Mahanjana says. Her job sees her travel to these countries at crucial stage of plant growth and development - during planting, booting and flowering, maturity and harvesting—as data collection is essential at these points. “When I’m in South Africa I compare data, and work together with the brewing team, who are my internal partner.” Mahanjana feels that healthcare is probably the only sector that might have a greater impact than agriculture. “Most people spend a lot of their young years dreaming about making an impact; I’m no different. Agriculture allows me to do Aviwe Mahanjana 20 | www.opportunityonline.co.za
