Minister Fights For Women Farmers, Value Chain Actors

The Western Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for the Takoradi constituency,   Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has stressed the need for women farmers and value chain actors to be given the requisite support since they contribute immensely to Ghana’s agricultural sector.

 

He bemoaned the fact that women in agriculture are usually marginalised and left with enormous limitations in the areas of land tenure, transportation, access to loans, market and other agronomic services.

He added that despite the challenges, women farmers continue to thrive in the various sub-sectors of the value chain.

 

 

This was contained in an address read on his behalf at the 4th Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and Gold in the Soil Awards in Takoradi.

It was organised by Agrihouse Foundation, with support from the Canada government, Yara Ghana, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Women and Development (WIAD) and the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC).

 

It was aimed at recognising the outstanding efforts and contributions of women farmers and value chain actors to Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The two-day event brought together women in agriculture as well as stakeholders in government, policymakers, development partners, and agriculture institutions.

In all, over 30 hardworking female farmers were awarded.

 

The prizes included tricycles, knapsack, boxes of fertiliser, wellington boots, rechargeable lamps, weedicides, plaques and certificates.

The minister said the region will continue to work hard to safeguard agriculture production through the government’s flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, and Rearing for Food and Jobs among others.

 

The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa Sarpong, said some women with disabilities were also making great strides in agriculture.

She mentioned that, during a field visit to some farms in the Western North Region, it was revealed that some women with disabilities had cultivated unimaginably large acres of farms.

“These hard working farmers needed to be given the push to excel in their businesses and entrepreneurship,” she pointed out.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana and Sierra Leone, Kati Csaba, mentioned that, her country will continue to support agricultural initiatives for women farmers in the areas of post-production, processing and extension services.

Prior to the awards programme, there was a conference for the women farmers on theme: “Agriwoman-grow-recover-stand out.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Daily Guide Network