Representatives of the Savannah Women Farmers Association in the Northern Region have participated in a day’s forum to expose them to some business opportunities in the agribusiness sector to leverage on them to improve their livelihoods.
As part of the forum held in Tamale, resource persons from Government agencies, financial institutions and buyers, took participants through ways to access funding and other opportunities at the various institutions to enhance the operations of their businesses.
The forum was organized by the Association and formed part of the implementation of the Restoration Project, under the Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers (GhaFFaP) with funding support from the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Participants for the forum were selected leaders of the association, drawn from 23 communities in the five operational districts of the association, namely Savelugu, Kumbungu, Nanton, Mion and Tolon.
Mr Oseni Kabiru, Programme Coordinator of the Savannah Women Farmers Association, during the forum, said it was intended to enhance the understanding of members of the association on the procedures and processes required to access services at various departments and agencies in the region.
He indicated that it was a further platform for stakeholders at the institutions to educate members on some of the available opportunities that the association members could take advantage of to enhance their operations.
Mr Matthew Angbanyere, Nanton District Director of Agriculture, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), underscored need for the women to prioritise formation of registered groups and associations to enable them access support from MOFA and other NGOs.
He explained that the formation of such groups would also enable the few Technical Officers in the districts to effectively disseminate information on available technologies and services to enhance their activities.
Mr Angbanyere said, “Unfortunately most of the communities do not see the importance of the associations, until there is an opportunity for them to benefit. At that stage it makes it difficult for us to support them, because we prioritise supporting groups than individuals.”
Madam Mumuni Wedad, MOFA Officer in charge of Women in Agriculture Development in the Savelugu Municipality, urged women not to shy away from programmes and other agribusiness related initiatives in their communities to ensure sustainable development.
Madam Bridgette Sheini, Head, Kumbungu District Business Advisory Centre of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, encouraged participants to take advantage of the business counselling and the digitisation skills training initiatives at the district to enhance their operations.
