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The Director of Business Banking at ABSA, Madam Grace Anim Yeboah, has revealed that, ABSA is continuously establishing strong partnerships with organizations like IFAD, Mastercard Foundation and Rural Development Fund, to enable the bank reach more actors in the value chain with financial and technical supports.
She said ABSA is currently focused on strengthening the capacities of smallholder farmers, to enable them increase their productivity and reduce postharvest losses, whiles they take advantage of the numerous opportunities COVID-19 has presented in these times.
According to her, ABSA’s ambition to make Africa proud has been reignited by the COVID-19 pandemic, “and we can’t afford to let our stakeholders, especially business partners and shareholders down,” she emphasized.
She said, in these times, ABSA is continuously linking small-scale farmers to other actors like processors and buyers; thus, being able to strengthen food security and support industries being established under the One District, One Factory Programme, by government.
In this light, she noted that, ABSA is proud to be associated with the 3rd Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership and Training Forum and Gold in the Soil Awards, organized by Agrihouse Foundation, aimed at bringing together women in agriculture sector; to be trained, mentored, network and celebrated for their incredible achievements, in spite of challenges.
She said Agribusiness is one of the key sectors ABSA considers key to its growth. “This means our partners in agribusiness will be counting on ABSA to connect their dreams to financial resources and services in order to bring their possibility to life,” she noted.
She therefore urged this year’s participants to continue making strides in their various areas within the agric value chain, and reiterated ABSA’s support towards their endeavours.
Madam Grace Anim Yeboah made these comments in a message read on her behalf at the just ended 3rd WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards organized by Agrhouse Foundation in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
About 3rd WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards
This year Madam Portia Asumda, from Zangeyire in the Upper East Region took home the ultimate Gold in the Soil Award. She has been farming five years and is into the cultivation of rice, and maize, and rears cow, small ruminant and guinea fowls.
She has been working for the past 10 years and has helped train about 200 women in agri-processing capacities. She mentors women and employs a number of them who depend on the income they make to support their families. In view of her hard work, NBSSI collaborates with her as a service provider, ensuring that her products meet international standards, that enables her to export her products.
The rest of the award winners in their various categories are as follows:
Passion for Farm— Portia Gban
She innovates— Gafaratu Fuseini
Climate Smart Women Project— Memuna Abdul Rahaman
Outstanding woman in extension services— Leuzumah Rashida
The super Woman Farmer— Alima Wahabu
Royal Agro— Ayiesheitu Mahamadu Asaki
Diamond in the rough— Saantuma Sala
Feed to Foods— Genevive Akugu
Change Champion Award— Asieme Elsie Azelikumah
Development Partner— Canada
Lady of the Export Region— Anita Sutha
Star Woman Agripreneur— Mavis Alahire Aboko
She operates— Joy okrah
Princess Carla— Hawawu Gbahara
Gold in the Soil— Portia Asumda
This year the Awards Scheme received 131 nominations from both Upper East and Upper West Region. Out of the number, 45 women were shortlisted and 14 awarded. A special Gold in the Soil award went to Canada as a development partner.
This year WOFAGRIC and Gold in the soil Award was in partnership with Canadian High Commission, ABSA Ghana and YARA, INTERPLAST, OCP AFRICA, PEG AFRICA, LUMINANT ELECTRICALS AND RDF GHANA.
Collaborating Institution included, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) and the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG).
The GOLD In the Soil AWARDS, is an annual awards scheme, solely dedicated to contribute in strengthening and projecting a paradigm shift of celebrating women farmers, processors, marketers and women who are playing a role within the agricultural value chain, including women into Transportation, packaging, Technology, input dealers, etc. The Awards moves from Region to Region yearly to search for these extraordinary women who contribute significantly to putting food on our tables daily. Their story is shared and broadcasted through a documentary series produced by Agrihouse Foundation.
Impacts of WOFAGRIC and Gold in the soil Awards
Since inception three years (3) ago, WOFAGRIC and Gold in the soil awards has impacted the lives and businesses of women in the agri-business space. So far 25% of women participants who were not into Agribusiness as at the time they attended the event, have now ventured into agribusiness. Similarly, about 900 women who were groomed to take up leadership roles have had their capacity built up to push for growth and expansion at the grassroots.
In 2019, almost a quarter of the nominees for the Gold in the Soil Awards made entries into the National Best Farmers Award Scheme at district, regional and national levels with about 7 of them winning laurels at the district and regional levels whilst 2 of them picked up awards at the National awards.
The training offered on proper management and book keeping have proven impactful. A follow up evaluation carried out 3 months after each event reveals that, past participants have been able to access loan facilities to support their farms and businesses. Furthermore, information and guidance provided by the Netherlands embassy and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) equipped some of the women farmers on the standard procedures, best practices and how to go documentations to export their produce. This has helped about 13 women to start the process to go into exportation.
