Gender-induced barriers working against Bono women, PWDs in agriculture
WOMEN, including persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Bono Region, are aggressively venturing into agriculture and agribusiness to improve their living standards.
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Statistics from the Bono Regional Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), indicate that about 48 per cent of the estimated 139,827 farmers in the region are women.
Their dominance in the agriculture sector has contributed significantly to food security, nutrition, economic growth and community well-being.
Women also play critical and strategic roles in agribusiness value chains, helping shape and model the country's economy.
Socio-cultural barriers
Notwithstanding these significant contributions of the female farmers, one of the major problems that keeps frustrating them in the region is the existence of gender-induced socio-cultural barriers.
Over the years, the barriers have prevented some women from venturing into agriculture, limiting their production and productivity, and hindering their progress and full utilisation of their potential.
A study conducted by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) in the region reveals that gender disparity exists against women farmers and limits their participation in training, access to inputs and extension services, land ownership and access to financial resources.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said women could increase production by 20 to 30 per cent if they had the same access to productive resources as their male counterparts (FAO 2011).
These came to light during the Agrihouse Foundation 6th Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum (WOFAAGRIC) and Gold in the Soil Awards ceremony in Sunyani last Wednesday.
It was organised by the Agrihouse Foundation and supported by Yara Ghana and Global Affairs Canada.
The forum and awards were on the theme: “Overcoming the barriers to women's agribusiness development: The role of stakeholders.”
Awards
In all, 15 female farmers, including PWDs, received awards with Nana Yaa Esuama Yeboah I, Gyaasehemaa of the Atuna Traditional Council, becoming the overall best female farmer of the Gold in the Soil award.
For her prize, she received a tricycle, bags of fertiliser, a pair of Wellington boots, a plaque and a certificate.
The award was to encourage women to venture into agriculture, particularly commercial farming.
At the ceremony, the Bono Regional Director of Agriculture, Dennis Abugri Amenga, said agriculture had and continued to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation, employment creation and ultimately boosting the economy.
"It is important to keep reminding ourselves that the farmers of this country play a crucial role in the development of this country and are indispensable when it comes to our sustenance as a people," he said.
Mr Amenga charged extension officers and other development partners to map up strategies to address the gender gap in farming.
He urged them to pay special attention to the needs of women farmers and promote women’s access to communal land.
Mr Amenga said the ceremony would help address socio-cultural barriers hindering the optimal productivity of the women farmers.
Govt commitment
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene, said the government was committed to implementing policies and programmes that promoted gender equality and empowered women in agriculture.
He said the government was focused on providing access to resources such as land, credit facilities, technology and training which were essential for the success of women in agribusiness.
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Ms Owusu-Banahene said the goal was to remove structural barriers and ensure that women had the same opportunities as their counterparts to excel in their endeavours in agriculture.
She called on the private sector, financial institutions and community leaders to invest in and champion the cause of women's agribusiness initiatives to create inclusive value chains.
Ms Owusu-Banahene also urged young girls to pursue careers in agriculture.
Rural women
The Executive Director of the Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the programme was instituted for rural women and farmers with disabilities.
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She said more than 600 women in the agriculture value chain participated in the ceremony.
Ms Akosa said recently young women had shown interest in the agriculture industry, adding that the foundation would continue to support them with farm inputs to improve their production.