Agrihouse Foundation in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, YARA, RDF, ABSA, OCP AFRICA and Fidelity Bank open the 4th Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum and Gold in the Soil Awards today.
This year, the two-part event is taking place at the Akroma Plaza Hotel in the Western Region, Takoradi, on the theme, “AGRIWOMAN: RECOVER- GROW- STAND OUT.”
Annually, the WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards moves from region to region, with the aim of empowering and celebrating the exceptional efforts of women in agriculture across the Regions.
In the past three (3) years, the two-part event has been held in the Volta Region, Ashanti Region, Upper East and West Regions. While the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum has developed and strengthened the capacities of over 2000 women in Agribusiness, by exposing them to more innovative approaches of handling their agribusinesses; the Gold in the Soil Awards has received about 638 entries, and awarded 45 agriwomen under the various categories.
The event also brings together stakeholders in government, policy and administration, development-partner organisations, Research, FBOs, Agric institutions, and resource persons, who support in the capacity building, training and mentorship sessions. The trainers and mentors empower the women with business knowledge and industry innovations, to help women excel in the sector.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa Sarpong, has noted that this year’s event will build the capacity of our women farmers and equally celebrate their successes, challenges, highs and lows.
This year nominations for the Gold in the Soil Awards focused on attracting women farmers, women-led agribusinesses and women farmers with disabilities, especially from the Western and Western North Regions respectively, whiles guiding the priorities for the future of women farmers.
Day one of the two-part event makes the most of positive and highly impactful activities including a Panel Discussion, dedicated to how we can further empower, the woman farmer with disability. There will be Technical field demonstrations, on appropriate use and application of equipment, one-on-one mentorships, empowerment talks, case study presentations, on modules and practices, that have worked, and how beneficial, they are, or can be for women farmers.
The “10-to-1”, Breakout session, will offer our women farmers a hands-on educational opportunity; from learning about farm safety, to learning about financial management, nutrition, markets, exports and investments, among others.
On Day 2, the event continues with mentorship sessions, and climaxes with the “GOLD IN THE SOIL AWARDS”., where 15 women farmers will be recognized and awarded, within 15 different categories.
“We will highlight their stories, through a documentary series and celebrate their passion, zeal, desire. We shall celebrate the fire in their hearts and the Grace in the Soul. We shall celebrate on how they are contributing to shape agriculture, in the respective communities” she said.
Fifteen (15) other women farmers with disabilities – OUR SUPERWOMEN, would also be recognized, for living beyond their disabilities, to inspire and encourage others. We will celebrate their abilities, for taking up a “complicated” profession like farming. These women sincerely inspire us, to keep pushing, she added.
