The Australian High Commission has extended support to 25 women to train them in dairy processing to promote sustainable livelihoods, income diversification and women’s economic empowerment.
The training took place at the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC) and was led by alumni who are beneficiaries of the Australia Awards Scholarship programme.
According to Gregory Andrews, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Australia is determined to collaborate with the government of Ghana and University of Ghana to help empower women to boost the country’s economy.
“Australia is very pleased to be working with the government of Ghana and University of Ghana to help women support Ghana’s ambitious efforts toward economic prosperity and value addition,” he stated.
He added that the 25 selected women are learning to add value to milk products in order to grow their income and support their families and communities. This, he explains, is a great example of sustainable development.
Giving an explanation on how the participants were selected, the Principal Assistant Farm Manager, Mrs. Martha Ajorlolo, said consultations were made with both the Members of Parliament for Madina and Adenta and their Assemblymen as well.
She said the selection was done through a thorough research and interviewing of the women that were presented by the MPs, as they picked only vulnerable women.
“We made them bring names, and we were looking at vulnerable women – women who have children and have no work, widows and single mothers. So, we made gatherings to meet them wherever we went,” he explained.
As part of the programme, there will be education on how the participants at the end of their training can set up their own business and meet the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) requirement to enable them get approval from the authority.
Mrs. Adjorlolo said a team will be sent out to visit each of them to see the impact they are making in their communities, and also the challenges they are facing after three months.
She further stated that plans are underway to meet the MPs and agencies to assist them in setting up seed capital.
