MP Urges Women to Embrace Farming and Agribusiness
More than 500 women in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region have received training and empowerment support to venture into agriculture and agribusiness under the SHE GROWS Conference, an initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation in the agricultural sector.
The conference, organized by the Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, under the auspices of the Yooyili Pagdede Foundation, brought together agricultural experts, agribusiness practitioners and resource persons from across the country to equip women with practical skills and knowledge to succeed in farming and related enterprises.
Addressing participants, Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz urged women to shed the perception that farming is an occupation reserved for men and instead embrace agriculture as a viable pathway to economic independence and wealth creation.
According to her, the Savelugu Municipality is predominantly made up of farming communities, making it essential for women to actively participate in agriculture and agribusiness to improve household incomes and contribute to local economic development.
She noted that empowering women in agriculture requires deliberate and intentional interventions that provide training, mentorship and access to opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
“The future of agriculture depends on the active involvement of women. We must create opportunities that encourage women to see farming and agribusiness as profitable ventures capable of transforming their lives and communities,” she emphasized.
Hajia Fatahiya explained that the Yooyili Pagdede Foundation is a non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of residents within the constituency through education, economic empowerment and social development initiatives.
She said one of the Foundation’s key objectives is to promote women’s participation in agriculture and equip them with the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector.
The conference attracted the support and participation of several Members of Parliament and development stakeholders, including the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei.
Speaking at the event, Madam Appiagyei commended the initiative and described it as a significant step toward addressing barriers that limit women’s participation in agriculture.
She noted that empowering women through agriculture has the potential to boost food security, reduce poverty and create sustainable livelihoods for families across the country.
According to her, similar initiatives are expected to be replicated in other constituencies to nurture and support women to engage profitably in agriculture and agribusiness.
Participants expressed appreciation to the organizers, describing the conference as timely and impactful. Many indicated their readiness to apply the knowledge acquired to establish or expand agricultural ventures.
The SHE GROWS Conference forms part of broader efforts to increase women’s involvement in agriculture and ensure that they play a central role in Ghana’s quest for food security, economic growth and sustainable development.