By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
An official of the Coordinating Unit of the European Union Ghana Agriculture Programme (EU-GAP), Matthias Berthold has paid tribute to women for the significant role they play in Ghana’s agriculture sector.
He underscored the importance of empowering and investing in women for socio-economic advancement.
Mr Berthold expressed the sentiment at the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day organized by EU-GAP and its partners at Dapuoha in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region. Quoting the 2023 Ghana Statistical Service report, Mr Berthold pointed out that “agriculture contributes to 21% of Ghana’s [Gross Domestic Product] GDP”.
He pledged that through the Market-Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP-NW) and Resilient Against Climate Change (REACH) Project to provide women farmers with business development services to enhance incomes for agro-processors.
The Wa Municipal Agric Officer, in charge of Women In Agricultural Development (WIAD), Madam Bennedette Naab stated that investing in women is not merely a moral obligation but “a strategic imperative for accelerating progress and creating a more inclusive world for all”.
She continued that women form the backbone of agriculture in many parts of the world, contributing significantly to food security, rural economy and sustainable development.
Madam Bennedette Naab observed that in spite of the crucial role of women, they often face a number of challenges including limited access to resources, land, education and decision-making power.
She pointed out that in order to help surmount the challenges, EU-GAP since it inception, has been critical in initiating interventions that ensure gender inclusiveness by focusing on increasing agricultural incomes and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Madam Naab announced that EU-GAP has partnered WIAD to promote nutrition education across Upper West for women groups on soya utilization and incorporation into their diets.
