Justina Awo Owusu Banahene (4th right) inspecting some agric products on exhibition
BONO REGIOMAL Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene, has praised women in agribusiness for their significant contributions towards food security, economic growth, and community well-being.
She observed that despite the contributions of women in agribusiness, they continue to face numerous challenges and obstacles that hinder their progress and prevent them from fully realising their potentials.
She made this observation during the opening ceremony of the sixth annual Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Award (GILD) jointly organised by WOFAGRIC and the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Sunyani.
It was themed, “Overcoming the Barriers to Women in Agribusiness Development: The Role of Stakeholders.”
Addressing the women, Ms. Banahene emphasised the need for collective and actionable steps by all stakeholders including the government, private sector, and civil society to address challenges confronting women in agribusiness.
“We must work together to provide support and resources to women in agribusiness and again create an enabling environment that allows women to thrive and reach their full potentials,” she said.
Bono Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Dennis Abugri Amenga, announced that approximately 48% of the estimated 139,827 farmers in the region were women.
He said women in agribusiness play a strategic role in shaping and modeling the nation’s economy adding that they have increased production by 20% to 30% saying they can achieve more if they have equal access to productive resources.
Mr. Amenga urged extension service providers and other development partners to develop strategies that will address the gender gap in farming and improve women’s access to communal land, extension services, and resources to enable them become more productive and contribute to the region’s agricultural success.
A female farmer from Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality, Elizabeth Sevour, expressed joy for being part of the forum saying it has empowered and motivated her to overcome barriers that held her back for so long and has boosted her confidence and self-esteem.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani