Our Founder: The Journey of Mrs. Yeshihareg Assefa Raised in a family of farmers and dairy producers, Mrs. Yeshihareg Assefa’s passion for agriculture took root in her earliest years. Although life initially led her to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she started selling belts on the streets, her entrepreneurial spirit flourished. She opened one of the first Ethiopian restaurants in Johannesburg, ran a successful medical business, and eventually returned to Ethiopia to pursue her true calling: agriculture. Despite challenges, including losing a coffee farm parcel and skepticism toward women in agribusiness, Mrs. Yeshihareg remains dedicated to her mission. With over 1,108 hectares of farmland and strategic backing from financial partners, she has made Santen a pioneering force in Ethiopian agriculture. " Today, she is a role model for young women, emphasizing that success in farming is a matter of passion and hard work rather than gender.
