Women Farmers in Fosukrom Advocate for Enhanced Agricultural Infrastructure

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In Fosukrom, located in the Bia East District of the Western North Region, women farmers are calling for improved processing, storage, and irrigation facilities to support their agricultural activities. These facilities, they argue, would enable them to transition into commercial production of staple crops such as maize, rice, and cassava, ultimately enhancing food productivity in the region.

Madam Mavis Odoi, Secretary of the Fosukrom Women Farmers Association (FWFA), conveyed this appeal during a training session on the adoption and application of indigenous technology. Facilitated by the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF), the training aimed to empower over 150 women farmers in the area. Participants were educated on climate change impacts, factors contributing to them, and the nation’s adaptation and mitigation strategies. Additionally, they were trained on the utilization of leaves for organic manure preparation and compost application.

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Madam Odoi highlighted the farming community’s demographic, where the majority are women and girls engaged in small-scale farming due to limited educational opportunities. The lack of processing, storage, and irrigation facilities impedes their ability to scale up production, particularly in cereal and vegetable cultivation.

Moreover, recurring droughts and disease outbreaks have adversely affected crop yields, exacerbating food insecurity and poverty among women farmers. To address these challenges, the women have resorted to using synthetic agrochemicals, which further degrade soil quality, impact climate change, and pose health risks.

Despite these challenges, Madam Odoi commended the GGF for supporting the FWFA in implementing a project aimed at enhancing sustainable farming practices. The project focuses on mobilizing and training women farmers in the area to prepare organic herbicides and pesticides, promoting environmentally-friendly practices that improve productivity without harming the ecosystem.

she however urged farmers to apply the knowledge gained from the training to effect positive change in their communities, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in mitigating climate change impacts and improving livelihoods.