Women in N/R unhappy with government’s agric policies
Some women in the Northern Region have registered their displeasure with the government, complaining of their inability to fully participate in the block farming concept introduced by government to enhance agricultural production.
The women said they do not have access to land and that they had inadequate information on the block farming concept for their active participation making it possible for only a few women to participate though women constitute a large number of smallholder farmers.
The women raised these concerns in a three-page communiqué issued in Tamale on Monday and presented to the Northern Regional Minister.
The communique said women are disadvantaged by cultural and resource limitations and appealed to the government to intervene and re-structure the programme taking into consideration the concerns of women.
The communiqué was read by Madam Gladys Lariba Mahama on behalf of the women after they had celebrated the World Rural Women’s Day and World Food Day organized by ActionAid-Ghana, an NGO.
The communiqué, which lauded the block farming concept as a good policy, said food was a fundamental human right that must be respected saying gender parity would continue to widen if the government did not take into consideration their concerns by acquiring land banks and allocate 70 percent of such lands to women as a security of tenure.
It said the government through MOFA must intensify educational campaigns on the programme to adequately educate and inform smallholder farmers particularly women on the opportunities of the block farm and how they could benefit in the programme.
The communiqué also called on the government to expand the crops currently being promoted to include crops such as groundnuts and vegetables which many women produce as well as provide adequate Agricultural Extension Agents to provide technical support to smallholder farmers.
Mr. Sam Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister who received the communiqué on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, said the concerns of the women were genuine and laudable and assured them their concerns would be considered in the next farming season.
He urged the women not to relent in their efforts by getting themselves involved in the block farming concept adding that they could also approach the District Assemblies to assist them to get their grievances addressed.
Madam Adjoa Kluvitse Kwarteng, Country Director of ActionAid-Ghana, said though the government had been heeding to the concerns and giving space to women in the country, if more could be done in food production, it would increase food security and enhance the livinghood of women.
She called for the introduction of more innovative and gender sensitive programmes taking into consideration the concerns and needs of women saying that “Let us develop programmes that fit the needs of these women”.
Source: GNA