By Gloria Anderson
The Country Director of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Ghana, Dr Betty Annan, has called for greater investments and policy support to empower women in agribusiness, stressing their critical role in transforming Africa’s food systems.
Speaking at an event in Accra to commemorate International Women’s Day, Dr Annan highlighted the importance of gender equality in the agricultural sector, urging stakeholders to take concrete actions to bridge the existing disparities that hinder women’s full participation.
“Empowering women in agribusiness is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity. Studies show that closing the gender gap in access to land, finance, and technology could increase farm productivity by up to 30 percent and reduce global hunger among more than 100 million people,” she stated.
She referenced the 2023 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, which underscores how increasing women’s access to productive resources could significantly boost food security and economic growth. She lamented that despite women making up nearly 50 percent of the agricultural workforce in sub-Saharan Africa, they own less than 15 percent of agricultural land and receive only 10 percent of available agricultural credit.
AGRA’s Interventions
Dr Annan outlined AGRA’s commitment to addressing these challenges through initiatives aimed at supporting women-led agricultural enterprises. She cited the VALUE4HER programme, which has empowered over 10,000 women entrepreneurs across Africa, including 1,500 members in Ghana. Through this initiative, women agripreneurs receive training, mentorship, and financial support to enhance their competitiveness in the agricultural value chain.
Additionally, she highlighted the Youth Employment for Food and Agriculture Programme (YEFFA), a partnership between AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation. The programme aims to equip 1.5 million youth with 50 percent being young womenwith the skills, resources, and market access needed to thrive in agribusiness.
To further encourage women’s leadership in the sector, Dr Annan announced the launch of the Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA), an initiative that offers over 300,000 United States dollars in grants** to outstanding female agripreneurs across Africa. Previous winners, she said, have successfully expanded their businesses, created employment, and invested in mentoring young women in the agricultural industry.
Call for Stronger Partnerships
Despite the progress made, Dr Annan stressed that much more needs to be done to break down structural barriers preventing women from reaching their full potential in agribusiness.
“We need stronger partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and development organisations to enhance financing, market access, and policy support for women in agriculture. When women are supported, entire communities and economies benefit,” she emphasised.
Representing the President of AGRA, Madam Alice Ruhweza, Dr Annan expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for their ongoing commitment to advancing women’s empowerment in the agricultural sector. She urged stakeholders to implement gender-responsive policies, leverage digital innovations, and invest in women-led agribusinesses to accelerate inclusive growth.
As Ghana joins the rest of the world in marking International Women’s Day, AGRA Ghana is reinforcing the call for action to ensure that women are not just participants but leaders and key drivers of Africa’s agricultural transformation.
