The income level of women farmers in five regions has increased through an intervention programme by the German Association of Rural Women (dlv).
Following the introduction of new methods for processing the rice, the number of sales of parboiled rice made by the women’s organizations increased from 17% to 27%.
Through the promotion of varied and healthy meals for better and balanced nutrition, including locally accessible foods and home gardening, there has also been an increase in food security and a decrease in malnutrition among over 6,000 people.
At a ceremony to formally celebrate the completion of the six-year project, which benefited five districts in Ghana, Madam Sophie Weissenhorn, Project Manager, German Association of Rural Women, revealed this.
Volta, Oti, Bono East, Northern, and Greater Accra are the regions. The recipients of the program got instruction in rice processing, business development, nutrition education, home garden cultivation, and organization creation for smallholder women farmers’ advocacy.
Madam Weissenhorn called the intervention “effective” in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, noting that the intervention area’s rice sales volume grew from 17% to 27% while women farmers’ income levels improved from 21% to 32%.
“Together we have gone a long and crucial way for women in Ghana and in Germany, always with respect and admiration,” added Mad Petra Bentkämper, President of (dlv).
“We’ve had success, which inspires us. To move us closer to equal involvement in the agricultural, food, and political sectors, I hope Ghana’s rural women continue their wonderful efforts.
She said why Ghana was selected for the project: “The first question was with which country do we want to collaborate? And fortunately, we chose Ghana, a country with a lot of promise and political stability. She enquired of the Ministry and those involved in the program’s implementation, such as Development Action Association (DAA) and Farmer Organization Network Ghana (FONG).
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has promised to work with stakeholders to assure the program’s continuation, according to Madam Paulina Addy, Director of the Women in Agricultural Development Directorate (WIAD).
“We hope to sustain it,” she said, “since the intervention is changing lives at the rural level.”
“Before the program, we didn’t know anything about rice parboiling, but dlv trained us, and now we have our rice in various supermarkets,” beneficiary Mad Paulina Adade remarked when speaking with GNA about her experience.
“I have my own brand, and some of the people I have mentored have established their own brands,” she continued. Many individuals are buying our products because of the packaging. -GNA