The Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Owusu-Banahene, have called on the government, private sectors, stakeholders, and relevant parties to implement decisive mechanisms that supports women in agribusiness.
Delivering the keynote address at the 6th Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum and Gold in the Soil Awards. Held from July 9th to 10th, 2024, at the Sunyani Technical University, in the Bono Region, under the theme “Overcoming the Barriers to Women in Agribusiness Development: The Role of Stakeholders. “She emphasized the critical need for collective efforts to create a supportive environment for women in the agricultural sector.
“Empowering women in agribusiness is not just about equality; it’s about driving economic development,” stated Hon. Owusu-Banahene. “Women are the backbone of every economy, driving growth and sustainability. By empowering them, we ensure a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector.”
Highlighting the role of cultural leaders and queen mothers, she urged them to use their influence in inspiring young women to pursue careers in agribusiness by actively mentoring and instilling the passion for agriculture among the youth, emphasizing the importance of securing land for women’s ventures.
In conclusion, she called on financial institutions to support women in agribusiness by providing accessible and affordable credit facilities. These resources, she emphasized, are crucial for enabling women to scale their operations, invest in modern technologies, and ultimately improve productivity in the sector.
The Country Representative for the American Soybean Association (ASA) through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program, Madam Harriet Agyekum, has called for increased efficiency in the poultry sector to improve food security in Ghana.
Speaking on Monday, July 1st, 2024, at the 4th Ghana Poultry Day organized by Agrihouse Foundation, she highlighted that optimizing efficiency in poultry production is essential to meeting the growing demand for poultry products within the country.
“Efficiency improvements in the poultry sector not only bolster food security by increasing local production but also contribute to economic stability and sustainability,” she stated.
She further highlighted the significant impact of WISHH’s initiatives on the poultry sector. According to her the program has grown the poultry sector’s production capacity, trained thousands of industry professionals on best management practices, helped producers and processors apply new post-harvest storage techniques to their existing operations, and connected supply chain partners to financial institutions, adding that ,there are ongoing efforts to collaborate with local leaders and supply chain partners in Ghana with the aim of building a robust networks, enhance production capacities, and promote sustainable agricultural practices within the poultry sector.
“Our initiatives focus on equipping industry professionals with best management practices, introducing new post-harvest storage techniques, and facilitating access to financial resources for poultry producers. WISHH seeks to position soyabean as a reliable protein source while supporting Ghana’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported poultry products,” she emphasized.
She however commended Agrihouse Foundation for their dedicated efforts in promoting the poultry sector in Ghana, noting their pivotal role in organizing events like the Ghana Poultry Day. “Agrihouse Foundation’s commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation within the poultry industry is commendable. Their initiatives have been instrumental in advancing agricultural practices and fostering partnerships that benefit the entire sector,” she remarked.
The 4th Ghana Poultry Day was Organized by Agrihouse Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority and supported by key entities including the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and the Ghana National Egg Campaign Secretariat, the event drew support from prominent sponsors such as Amas Farms, Labianca Company Limited, Wilmar International, 10th September Spices, Agrogenics Ghana Limited, Maphlix Trust Ghana Ltd, Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Project, and Wilmar Africa .
