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Improving Food Security through Greater Involvement of Women in Productive Agriculture

The three regions of northern Ghana are the most food in-secured regions in Ghana, especially during the long dry season when households cannot afford a meal per day because food stocks are usually not enough to sustain them all year round. This is usually characterised by stunted and undernourished rural children. The food insecurity situation is mostly attributed to low agricultural output and limited productivity of land, labour and capital. In order to contribute to improvement in this situation, RAINS is promoting women involvement in productive agriculture to increase agricultural outputs in the production of staple foods as compared to the marginal crops like vegetables which women are always involved in.

We supported four women groups comprising a total of 210 women in Bidima, Kpachelo, Sang and Zoosali to engage in farming activities. Each of the beneficiaries was supported to cultivate one acre farmland. They cultivated crops including maize, groundnuts, beans, vegetables among others which are the main staple foods for most households in northern Ghana. Beneficiaries were supported with improved seeds, ploughing services and training in good agricultural practices. This was done in collaboration with the District Agric Development Unit under the Ministry of Agric. These interventions have contributed to improving the food security in the household especially during the ‘hunger season’ and also boosted the nutritional status of children       .

The gratitude of the communities in relation to this support can be summed up in the words of Rabi Mutaru from Sang, “We women from this part of the country do not usually own farms, we would normally help our husbands on their farms, now with this support we are now able to own farms which means more food for our children throughout the year since we will supplement what our husbands store for household feeding. This will also offer us the needed skills, knowledge and experience to get involved in full time farming both as a source of income and food for our families.”

Mr Baba Adam of Kpachelo also added; “With this support for my wife, I know it is going to help supplement what I will be earning from my farming this year to ensure that we have food throughout the year. Therefore, I will do whatever I can to support her get good yield and also to sustain her interest in farming”

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