Women rice farmers in the Volta and Oti regions are urging stakeholders to address systemic barriers hindering their competitiveness against imported rice.
Speaking on behalf of the Volta and Oti Women in Agriculture (VOWAN), Saraphine Obrotery, Vice Chairperson of the Gamesu Women Rice Farmers Association, outlined major hurdles including inadequate access to land, limited affordable credit, and poor agricultural infrastructure.
She noted that while women are the backbone of the rice value chain, handling everything from planting to marketing, they remain marginalised in policy decisions and resource allocation.
Obrotery called for the establishment of fair land-use policies and increased investment in climate-smart agricultural training, processing equipment, and irrigation systems.
She also expressed hope that the proposed Women’s Bank will alleviate financial constraints and enable farmers to expand their operations.
To strengthen the local rice value chain, she urged the government and private sector to support women-led cooperatives, improve market linkages, and help local producers enhance the packaging and branding of their rice.
She emphasised that empowering these women is crucial not only for their economic independence but also for Ghana’s national food security.
