The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo has called for the empowerment of more women, especially the disabled to thrive in agriculture by providing them with the needed support.

According to him, women played significant roles in agriculture, and stated that the country was currently enjoying food security due to the contribution of women in the sector.

“Women make up more than half of Ghana’s agricultural labour force with many engaged in ploughing, planting seeds, harvesting, processing foods, selling and cooking. If not for our women, we will be very hungry in this country and so it is important to give them the maximum support to enable them thrive and I believe will have significant impact on the nationl,” he stated.

Mr Addo was speaking at the 5th Women in Food and Agricultural Leader Training Forum and the Gold in the Soil Awards organised in Koforidua by Agrihouse Foundation in collaboration with World Food Programme, Global Affairs Canada and Yara Ghana.

The forum and awards, on the theme: “Overcoming Barriers of Women in Agribusiness: The Role of Stakeholders” awarded 13 women in different categories, who have made significant strides in farming and its related value chain.

The winners received equipment and machines to enable them improve their work for their benefit and for society.
Madam Margaret Agyei received the Ultimate Gold in the Soil Award and was given a tricycle, farming equipment and agriproducts.

The others winners included Naana Felicia Akyeamah who won the Passion for Farm Award, Change Champion Award, Mrs Dzidzinyo Fianu, Princess Carla Award, Enerstina Osei Tutu, Outstanding Woman in Extension Services Award, Delali Esi Agyeman, Feed to Food Award, Lydia Gyebi Asare and Development Partners Award, Global Affairs Canada and World Food Programme.

The others were She-Operates Award, Hajara Mohammed, She-innovates Award, Abigail Ghama, Climate Smart Award, Doris Opoku Hagan, Diamond in the Rough Award, Adwoa Agyeiwaa, Star Woman Agripreneur Award, Faustina Mamle Nartey, and Royal Agro Award, Nana Obaapanin Konadu Kontie II
Mr Addo noted that as part of ways to support women in the agricultural sector, the government has reviewed the Planting for Food (PFJ)initiative to include women who would receive financial and logistical support.
“The women and youth would be asked to register with an Aggregator and after that all farm inputs would be given till harvesting,” he revealed, adding the new programme under the PFJ would be launched soon.

He congratulated the winners and called on them to mentor and encourage the youth into the sector to ensure continuous development of the sector for the benefit of the whole country.

The Director and Head of Cooperation at Global Affairs Canada, Kathlyn Flunn-Dapaah stated that Agriculture continued to be the backbone of Ghana’s economy, where many women were employed but faced several challenges including inadequate access to financing and agricultural inputs to increase their yields and incomes.

She said empowering women in agriculture could improve the sector significantly and called on government to ensure their policies including PFJ favour women to excel in agriculture and agribusinesses.

For her part, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyea thanked the sponsors for their support over the years and stated that Agrihouse would continue to make significant impact on improving the lives of women farmers and people with disabilities in the agricultural value chain.

She said the winners would be engaged to help in mentoring others especially the youth to encourage more women into agriculture and revealed that the next awards edition would occur at the Bono East region.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua