Feed Ghana Programme: Group calls on Gov’t to prioritise women in Agric
The Kassena-Nankana Municipal, based women's group underscored the need for immediate government intervention as the rainy season sets in.
Women in Agriculture Platform (WAP), an agriculture-focused women’s group, has urged government to prioritise women in agriculture in the implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP).
The Kassena-Nankana Municipal, based women’s group underscored the need for immediate government intervention as the rainy season sets in.
Janet Atimoliga, the group’s leader, highlighted key challenges faced by women in agriculture in an interview on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, May 1.
She enumerated challenges with land acquisition, access to farmer loans and tractor services as key concerns of women in crop production.
“We are challenged with a lot regarding getting fertiliser for our farms, and we are only getting support from a private organisation. Also, it is difficult for women to get tractors to plough our farms, we have to wait for the men to be done before we get one, which leads to late farming, resulting in poor yields,” she lamented.
Atimoliga, who speaks for the over 220 members of the group, advocated for the John Mahama-led government to prioritise women engaged in agriculture due to the myriad challenges they faced.
“The government program, which was launched, if they have not started yet, they should start with us women,”
“They should provide us with tractors meant for women alone so we don’t compete with the men, and also financial support in the form of farm loans and provision of fertilisers.” Atimoliga urged.
Similarly, Isaac Pabia, a regional focal person and secretary for the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), emphasised the need for special attention to be given to women and youth in agriculture.
He further praised WAP for their dedication and effective repayment of loans offered to them in the form of input loans.
“Their group [WAP] is well organised, Peasant Farmers Association through its business wing is supporting WAP with farm inputs; the group provide good recovery, they take inputs, produce and pay back one hundred percentage.
Pabia, also called on other farmers to consider organising themselves in effective groups to position themselves for support from agriculture sponsors.
Mike 105.3FM| Navrongo | Alexander Bombande
