The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana) has held a Regional Stakeholders’ meeting on Agricultural Policy Advocacy in Tamale, to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in agricultural policy and economic decision-making.
The engagement formed part of an ongoing project titled: “Strengthening Women’s Voice and Leadership in Agricultural Policy and Economic Justice in Northern Ghana,” supported by the African Women’s Development Fund.
The meeting brought together about 50 participants from Tolon, Sagnarigu, Tamale, Mion, and Savelugu Districts including representatives from women farmer groups, departments of agriculture, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations.
It provided a platform for dialogue on agricultural policy implementation and strategies to ensure that women farmers benefited equitably from government and private sector interventions.
Regional agricultural officers briefed participants on policy frameworks such as the Feed Ghana initiative, fertilizer subsidy programme, and the government’s digitalization agenda in agricultural extension services.
They underscored the need for climate-smart agricultural practices, improved post-harvest handling, and stronger value chain systems to enhance productivity and market access for smallholder women farmers.
During their discussions, women leaders highlighted persistent challenges such as limited access to land, inadequate credit facilities, lack of mechanisation support, and low representation in local agricultural planning processes.
They called for greater inclusion of women in district agricultural committees, equitable input distribution, and increased investment in women-led agribusinesses.
Madam Fati Alhassan, a women’s leader from the Savelugu Municipality, commended SWIDA-Ghana for amplifying the voices of rural women, saying “This meeting has given us the confidence to speak directly to officers and share our real challenges. We now understand that policy advocacy is also our responsibility.”
Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, the Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, said empowering women in agriculture was not merely a gender issue but an economic necessity for food security and inclusive local development.
She reaffirmed SWIDA-Ghana’s commitment to supporting women’s advocacy for fair and gender-responsive agricultural policies.
She thanked the African Women’s Development Fund for its continuous support in empowering women with skills and knowledge, to demand accountability and influence better agricultural outcomes.