Agnes Sirudi Mutanuka, one of the few women operating heavy agricultural machinery at Uvhungu Vungu irrigation scheme in Kavango East, has an interesting story to tell – one of resilience and determination.

Mutanuka’s journey into tractor driving spans nearly two decades. She joined the irrigation scheme about 20 years ago, starting out in a modest role milking cows on the farm. At the time, she never imagined that she would one day be behind the wheel of a powerful tractor ploughing fields and transporting harvests.

Her turning point came in 2006 when a tractor driving training programme was introduced. Without thinking twice, she registered for the course, driven by a long-held interest in operating machinery.

“In 2005/06, the irrigation scheme introduced a tractor driving course, which I happened to register for as I was yearning to be part of the few people driving those heavy machinery. We had a month-long training which was conducted by my supervisor back then and after that, I have been operating tractors for years,” she said.

After completing her training, she graduated as a tractor operator responsible for ploughing fields, harvesting crops, and transporting loads using trailers.

Although she admits that she initially did not picture herself driving such heavy machinery, her confidence and passion grew stronger with time. She was further mentored and trained on the job by her supervisor.

“My supervisor has been instrumental to my journey.  He urged me to take up driving heavy machinery seriously and that helped me excel at work. I was also changed to receive a salary for drivers at the irrigation centre,” she added.

The 41-year-old operates row crop tractors, which are specifically designed for crops planted in rows. These tractors have high ground clearance to prevent damage to crops and adjustable wheels that allow easy movement between rows, a crucial feature for irrigated fields using furrows or drip-line systems.

Describing her daily routine, Mutanuka says her workday begins with a morning briefing at the boardroom, where tasks are allocated. From there, she heads straight to her tractor to conduct safety checks, inspecting the wheels, engine and water levels before starting the machine and heading out to the fields.

Operating heavy machinery has long been viewed as a male-dominated role, but Mutanuka says this perception never stopped her from pursuing her dream. She recalls receiving mixed reactions from colleagues after completing her training, while some were supportive, others were openly sceptical.

“At first, there was a lot of criticism,” she says. “Some people doubted me, but with time, I got used to it and focused on my work. We were two females at the beginning, but as time went on, my colleague left because of the criticism but that didn’t stop me from chasing my dreams.”

Today, Mutanuka stands as a quiet symbol of determination and resilience, proving that skill and passion, not gender, define who belongs in the driver’s seat.

“Now I feel proud of the strides I have made in my life. Even when I retire one day, I can literally buy my own tractor and just do it as a side quest. I could still go on and teach my children how to operate a tractor,” she said.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na