500 Women empowered with agribusiness, digital skills in Savelugu
More than 500 women in the Savelugu Municipality in the Northern Region have been equipped with modern agricultural tools, digital literacy, branding and entrepreneurial skills to improve their productivity and income levels in the agricultural value chain.
The training was provided at the two-day conference dubbed “She Grows” which also created a platform for discussions on mental health, social resilience and community well-being among the women.
Organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Savelugu Constituency, Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, the conference was held on the theme: “Her Hands, Our Harvest: The Future is Fertile.”
Green Economy
Speaking at the conference at Pong Tamale, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, said women remained the backbone of agriculture despite having limited access to land, credit, technology, markets and decision-making opportunities.
She urged women to embrace opportunities within the green economy to enhance their economic empowerment and ownership of productive assets in the agricultural sector.
"The green economy is not only about protecting nature; it is about creating jobs, increasing incomes, reducing poverty and building resilient communities," she said.
Ms Appiagyei also admonished women farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, improve soil health, conserve water resources and embrace innovations that increase productivity while protecting the environment.
She further called on the government, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to increase investments in women farmers through affordable credit, mechanisation services, training opportunities, market access and sustainable agricultural practices.
Sustainable Economic Growth
For her part, Mrs Abdul Aziz said the initiative was designed to ensure that women's hard work translated into sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods through access to modern farming practices, technology and market opportunities.
She emphasised the need to create equal opportunities for all women, regardless of their physical abilities or social backgrounds, to actively participate in agricultural development and economic empowerment.
"I want to position Savelugu as a leading agricultural hub with global relevance, particularly in agribusiness, innovation and value addition," she said.
Inclusion and Mental Health
The Member of Parliament explained that women with disabilities and local livestock rearers would be central to the municipality's agricultural transformation agenda.
She intimated that addressing mental health challenges was essential to achieving meaningful and lasting development, stressing that women could only realise their full potential when they received the necessary social, emotional and economic support.
Some beneficiaries who spoke to the Daily Graphic commended the organisers for the initiative, saying the knowledge and skills acquired would help improve their livelihoods, strengthen their businesses and boost economic activities within their communities.
