• The MCE and some digintaries interacting with beneficiaries at the programme

Young women in agricultural business (agribiz) in the Upper West Region have said that with adequate support from stake­holders, the sector would be able to expand and help reduce youth employment to the barest minimum in the region and the nation at large.

The young women who are already making strides in their re­spective ventures ranging from crop production to converting agricultur­al produce into semi-finished and finished products for sale, believe that if they had access to the need­ed technical support and logistics, they would be able to make more impact.

At a meeting to mark the end of a project christened “Female-led Agribusiness Project”, (FLAP) which supported eight female-led agri-businesses at Wa, Ms Doris Siibu, a beneficiary of FLAP said the support she received from the project enabled her to expand her vocation.

Doris who was adjudged the best female farmer in the Nadowli-Kaleo District at the 2022 Farmers’ Day celebration said the provision of logistics such as tricycle and tech­nical support by FLAP enabled her to engage more hands and expand her farm to 50 acres leading to the increase and the size of her live­stock.

The young farmer in charge of Resource Farms said hitherto, it was difficult conveying items to the farm but the tricycle changed the narrative, adding that females in agriculture were faced with lot of challenges and such direct support was necessary for their growth.

Estimated at a cost of GH₵256,336 the FLAP, implemented by Plan In­ternational Ghana with support from the Australian High Commission, supported agri-businesses such as Poyaare Naturals, Resource Farms, Kobaa-Ok Farms, Sung Pumpkin, Miga Glow, Royal-Avielle Honey, Inspired Legacy and Influx and Spill Products

The small scale agri-businesses produced items such as packaged shea butter, body scrub, soap, hair pomade and body lotions from shea butter, among others.

The Project Lead of FLAP, Ms Harri­et Elorm Setsoafia said that the mo ­tive of the project was to empower young female-led agribusiness with entrepreneurial knowledge, skills, resources and network to improve and scale up their ventures.

Second Secretary and Consul at the Australian High Commission in Ghana, Ms Harriet Williams who visited the ventures of some of the beneficiaries earlier, expressed sat­isfaction with the results and said it would enhance the quest for women empowerment.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Wa, Alhaji Issahaku Tahiru Moomen who chaired the meeting, challenged the young ladies to use the resources and technical exper­tise acquired to grow their business­es.

Some other beneficiaries lauded the project and said the mentor­ship provided them with adequate knowledge on branding, packaging and marketing.

 From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa