A stakeholders’ dialogue has been held by SWIDA Ghana and partners, aimed at examining government’s existing policies on agriculture and its related economy.
Held in Tamale, the stakeholders’ engagement was also aimed at discussing and making recommendations on how women in the agribusiness space can have access to resources, and market opportunities.
These opportunities, the engagement found to be crucial to the development of the woman farmer, as it enhances the value chain and makes the venture more attractive to women, as well as helps to improve the economic well-being of the rural communities.
Emphasizing on the need for women’s interests to be a key part of the discussion on agricultural and economic policies, Executive Director for SWIDA Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed indicated that even with the challenges, the numbers of women involved in rural farming have increased significantly over the years, thereby making it imperative for the patching of policy gaps to achieve gender-sensitivity.
The dialogue sought to strengthen the collaboration between local authorities and women-led groups, contributing to amplify the voices of women in policy discussions.
Some of the women farmers who spoke during the dialogue expressed satisfaction with the direction of affairs, after indicating some of the challenges they face in their activities as farmers, especially in the rural areas.
This engagement is part of the activities under SWIDA Ghana’s advocacy initiative, “Strengthening Women’s Voice and Leadership in Agricultural Policy and Economic Justice in Northern Ghana,” being funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).
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