Global Affairs Canada have partnered with Agrihouse Foundation for the sixth year for the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and Gold in the Soil Awards, scheduled for July 9th to 10th, 2024 in Sunyani in the Bono Region with the aim of continuously advancing and empowering women farmers, farmers with disabilities and women across the entire agricultural value chain in Ghana.
In her statement, Madam Candace Holt, the Second Secretary of Development for Global Affairs Canada, emphasized that their continues support for Agrihouse Foundation’s Women In Food And Agricultural Leadership Training Forum And Gold In The Soil Awards aligns with their Feminist International Assistance Policy, which recognizes that when women achieve their full economic potential, whether as farmers ,agricultural producers, employees, entrepreneurs, or business leaders, the economy thrives, benefiting more people.
“We believe that women are critical to the sustainability and growth of Ghana’s agriculture sector and the WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards provide a crucial platform to recognize and celebrate women farmers and those with disabilities who have overcome challenges and made significant contributions to Ghana’s development and that is what Global Affairs Canada is about ‘’. she remarked
Highlighting the impact of this partnership on Ghana’s agricultural sector, Ms. Holt noted that there have been a significant increase in empowerment and self-reliance among women for the past 6years ,enabling them to achieve higher levels of financial autonomy, invest in land, expand agro-processing activities, and sustain their families, even during off-seasons which has also contributed to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 which seeks to promote gender equality by addressing barriers to women’s economic empowerment.
it is however important to continue to draw attention to the significant work that women farmers do at all point along the agricultural value chains, and the WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards has offered a consistent and far-reaching platform to get that message across’’ she concluded
Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, expressed profound gratitude for Global Affairs Canada’s steadfast partnership over the past six years. “Global Affairs Canada has been instrumental in advancing the status of women in agriculture in Ghana, through the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum and The Gold in The Soil Awards.” Ms. Akosa emphasized.
“Their continued support enables us to create opportunities for women to thrive in agriculture, contributing to Ghana’s economic growth and advancing gender equality.”
The annual regional intervention have for the past six years been held in the Volta, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Upper East, Upper West, and Eastern Regions benefiting over 8,000 women farmers, processors, and farmers with disabilities, processors ,agriprenuers and women across the entire agricultural value chain by providing them with the resources, training, mentorship ,networking ,and recognition they need to thrive in the agricultural sector and also fostering leadership, innovation, and inclusivity,
The two-day event, to be hosted at the Sunyani Technical University in the Bono Region, on Tuesday July 9th to Wednesday July 10th 2024 under the theme Overcoming the barriers to women Agribusiness Development: The Role of Stakeholders. “will feature over six hundred (600) women farmers, processors, agriprenuers, famers with disability and women across the entire agricultural value chain engaging in activities such as break-out panel discussions, training workshops, exhibitions, trade shows, speed networking, and mentorship sessions. These components will empower participants to gain valuable insights, exchange best practices, and forge collaborations that have the potential to reshape the future of agriculture in Ghana.
One of the highlights will be the prestigious Gold in the Soil Awards, recognizing exceptional women farmers and women with disabilities, processors, agriprenuers and women in the entire agricultural value chain who have made remarkable contributions to the agricultural industry.
The Gold in the Soil Awards, held on the second day, span seventeen categories, each designed to honor and showcase the achievements of women in various facets of agriculture. These categories include the Super Woman Farmer Award, Passion for Farm Award, Outstanding Woman in Extension Services Award, Royal Agro Award, Diamond in the Rough Award, Feed to Food Awards, Change Champion Award, others includes ,She Innovates Award, Climate-Smart Women Project Award, Lady of The Region Export Award, Star Woman Agripreneur Award, She-Operates Award, Development Partner Award, Princess Carla Award, and the ultimate Gold in the Soil Award and the newly introduced Agri-Input Sales Woman of the Year category and the Supportive Agri-Man Award
As Agrihouse Foundation and Global Affairs Canada continues its journey towards agricultural transformation, the role of women farmers and women with disabilities cannot be overstated. Their resilience, expertise, and determination are integral to ensuring food security, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering economic growth.
