In Ghana and Africa, an inequality persists that threatens the very foundation of agricultural sustainability: women farmers are being denied their rightful share of equal rights and opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of injustice and inefficiency.
Despite their invaluable contributions to the agricultural landscape, women continue to face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to thrive like their male counterparts, such as limited access to land tenure, financial services, agricultural extension services, and decision-making opportunities.
By focusing on gender equity and women’s advancement in Ghana’s agricultural sector, the emphasis is placed on addressing these disparities, harnessing women’s potential as agents of change, and promoting sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.
This involves tailored interventions such as gender-sensitive policies, targeted capacity-building programs, women-led agricultural cooperatives, and initiatives to promote women’s leadership and entrepreneurship in agriculture. Ultimately, by prioritizing gender equity and women’s advancement, Ghana can unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector, drive economic growth, alleviate poverty, and achieve broader sustainable development goals.
Agrihouse foundation have been at the forefront championing initiatives that promote women advancement in the agricultural sector ,some of this initiatives includes woman in food and agriculture training forum and the gold in the soil awards, Agri woman market place, Agri Female Initiative, other interventions includes the Gathering Of The Royals Initiative slated for Thursday ,February 29,2024 ,at the GNAT Hall in Accra under the theme ‘SEED OF CHANGE ‘CULTIVATING GENDER EQUALITY IN AGRICULTURE AND HONOURING WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT.
The Gathering Of The Royals Interventional Initiative represents the meeting of queen mothers in agribusiness across all 16 regions of Ghana who are individually working to put women at the heart of food systems, within their respective regions, for the past 5 years ,the event has successfully served as a leading platform for these royals ,to engage in meaningful conversations, sharing their experience as farmers and insight on how they can effectively partner with corporate institutions, development organizations and government agencies to enhance the agricultural sector ‘s overall progress.
These women leaders discuss the key issues they face in their respective regions and communities ranging from access to resources, market challenges and the need for sustainable and smart Agricultural practices.
They collectively brainstorm and explore innovative solutions to address these challenges, with the ultimate goal of fostering a thriving and an inclusive agricultural sector.
The Gathering of the Royals, has gathered has over 2, 973 traditional leaders, women farmers, assemblymen, district chief executives, community leaders and stakeholders influencing and transforming communities, in diverse ways
IMPACT OF THE GATHERING OF THE ROYAL OVER THE YEARS
1. The successful facilitation of extension support services and officers to communities that were initially not receiving support, with support by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
3. The establishment of community watch policing, across various communities to ensure sustainability of agri-peace in the farming communities, with support from the Ghana Police service.
4. Supported to deepen and establish new relationship between traditional leaders and development agencies, to advance and scale-up farming activities within communities.
5. Created a much-needed community support avenue, for input dealers, machinery and equipment companies, financial institutions and other agencies, to introduce product and services to farming communities, thereby, increasing access to input, and enhancing speed and efficiency.
6.Successfully supported women farmers and policy makers to strengthen relationships, and work towards a common goal of developing good networking farm roads, find solutions to animal invasion of farmlands, transportation and other key resources.
The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa speaking at a recent press briefing for the 6th gathering of the royals, outlined the event’s objective to delve into issues surrounding gender and its impact on advancing and nurturing sustainable women farmers across various regions of Ghana, while emphasizing the pivotal roles of queen-mothers in spearheading agricultural growth, development, and change within their respective regions.
Ms. Akosa passionately emphasized the significance of this year’s Gathering of The Royals as a strategic platform for influencing policy directions, forging stronger partnerships among traditional leaders, and driving comprehensive growth in the agricultural sector.
underlining the pressing need to address gender disparities within the agricultural landscape. She stressed the theme’s emphasis on cultivating gender equality in agriculture, advocating for concerted efforts to empower women in agribusiness and afford them equal opportunities for growth and advancement.
women often encounter systemic barriers, hindering their full participation and contribution to the sector’s development. Through this year’s 6th gathering of the royal’s event will also seek to celebrate and honour the achievements of women in agriculture, alongside championing meaningful policy interventions and support systems that promote gender equality, emphasizing the importance of fostering an inclusive agricultural ecosystem that recognizes and values the contributions of women farmers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
The Vice President for the Queen Mothers Foundation and Queen Mother for Kwamankese Traditional Area, Nana Kobiiwaa Ackwah, speaking on behalf of the President of the Queen Mothers Foundation, Nana Serwaa Bonsu, at the press briefing, stated the crucial role of Queen Mothers in driving agricultural development within their communities.
“Queen mothers are the backbone of their communities, and we play a crucial role in driving agricultural development. We know the challenges that exist in our regions, and we have firsthand knowledge of what it takes to make a difference,” she stressed. She emphasized the importance of leveraging this knowledge and expertise through collaboration with Agrihouse Foundation to find innovative solutions that can positively impact the agricultural sector across Ghana.
Nana Kobiiwaa Ackwah shared that the Queen Mothers Foundation of Ghana has been actively involved in empowering women in agriculture, providing training and resources to enhance their skills and productivity. She urged the need for continued support and partnerships to ensure the success and sustainability of these initiatives, expressing gratitude to Agrihouse Foundation for consistently creating platforms to address agricultural issues through various initiatives, reiterating their commitment to creating an inclusive and collaborative environment where the voices of queen mothers are heard, respected, and valued.
TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF GATHERING OF THE ROYALS- NANA ODEITOWN II
Speaking on the impact that the Gathering of the Royals has had on her region, Nana Odeitown II, Queen Mother for Tokuroano Traditional Area in the Oti region, emphasized the transformative impact of the Gathering of the Royals initiative in addressing this critical issue. With support from benevolent organizations and collaborative efforts facilitated by Agrihouse Foundation, the community was able to acquire gari processing machines, enabling local farmers to process their cassava yield efficiently.
She noted that the initiative empowered her and other community leaders with knowledge and resources, enabling them to train the youth in various agricultural practices such as groundnut processing, shea butter production, and effective gari processing techniques. “This initiative not only provided us with essential machinery but also equipped us with valuable knowledge that we could pass on to the younger generation,” she remarked. “Now, our youth are actively engaged in agricultural activities, contributing to the economic growth and sustainability of our community.”
EMBRACING AGRICULTURE AS A VIABLE CAREER-
Adding her voice, Mama Megbenya II, Queen Mother of the Hlefi Traditional Area in the Ho-West Municipality, emphasized the transformative potential of agriculture as a viable career path for women and the youth.
‘’the potential of agriculture as a sustainable livelihood option for women and youth is underestimated. I stand here today to challenge the nation and encourage our women and the youth to embrace agriculture as a viable career choice,” Mama Megbenya II stated. Drawing from her own experiences and observations within her community, Mama Megbenya II highlighted the multifaceted benefits of agriculture beyond mere sustenance. She stressed the importance of viewing agriculture not only as a means of food production but also as a source of economic empowerment and community development.
According to her by engaging in agriculture, our women and the youth have the opportunity to not only provide for their families but also contribute to the economic growth of our community, adding that agriculture fosters a sense of pride and connection to the land, instilling valuable life skills and promoting environmental stewardship.”
Mama Megbenya II, however advocated for the integration of backyard gardens into daily agricultural practices. She emphasized the potential of backyard gardens serving as an additional source of income and nutrition for families, particularly in rural areas where access to fresh produce may be limited.
PROMOTE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS AGRICULTURE- NANA SERWAA BRAKATUO II
Nana Serwaa Brakatuo II, Abetifi Ahakomanhemaa, also speaking at the press briefing for the 6th Gathering of the Royals, shed light on a critical issue affecting children’s perceptions of agriculture. Recognizing the profound impact of childhood experiences on future career choices, Nana Serwaa Brakatuo II addressed the detrimental practice of using weeding as a form of punishment in schools.
“It is disheartening to see that weeding, a fundamental agricultural activity, is being used as a form of punishment in our schools. By associating weeding with punishment, we inadvertently instil negative perceptions of agriculture in the minds of our children,” Nana Serwaa Brakatuo II expressed with concern.
“We must recognize that agriculture is not a punishment but a noble and essential occupation that sustains life and fosters prosperity in our communities. As leaders and educators, it is our responsibility to cultivate a positive perception of agriculture among our youth,” she asserted passionately.
Nana Serwaa Brakatuo II concluded her address by calling upon school authorities, parents, and guardians to reconsider the use of weeding as a form of punishment and to prioritize the promotion of positive attitudes towards agriculture among children. She affirmed her commitment to advocating for agricultural education and empowering the youth to embrace agriculture as a rewarding and dignified profession.
The Gathering of the Royals initiative has, for the past five (5) years, established itself as a cornerstone interventional initiative, providing a vital platform for Queen Mothers in farming and other Agribusiness value chains, to engage in meaningful conversations. Together, they tackle pressing issues peculiar to their communities and Regions, such as access to resources, market challenges, and the imperative for sustainable practices.
Now in its sixth year, as part of the activities for this year, we get to celebrate women who have stood and fought positively, for gender advancement for many years while advocating for meaningful policy interventions and support systems that promote gender equality.
The 6th Gathering of the Royals slated for Thursday 29th February 2024 promises to be a day filled with insightful discussions and valuable networking opportunities influencing policy directions, fostering stronger partnerships among traditional leaders, and driving holistic growth in the agricultural sector.
It is a leap year, and an election year, and we are positive you share in our desire for a country of co-operation and further development of sustainable farming, with peace and security, as a bedrock.
