Women farmers in Northern Ghana are urging the government to urgently review and implement a comprehensive agricultural master plan tailored to the five northern regions. They believe such a move is crucial for transforming agriculture in the north, especially in the face of worsening climate change.
The farmers made their call at a women’s empowerment forum in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region. The event was themed “Promoting Sustainable Agriculture for Improved Food Security and Poverty Eradication in Climate-impacted Northern Ghana – The Role of Policy Makers.” It brought together 50 women participants and was organised by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) under a project supported by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP). The project is part of a broader regional initiative known as IREEWAM, which seeks to boost renewable energy investments in agriculture and mining for women across West Africa.
At the forum, participants discussed key government policies affecting women farmers, current interventions by the Northern Development Authority, and the impact of climate change on agriculture in the region.
The women stressed that a well-executed master plan would help the government respond with targeted programmes to increase food production. They requested the speedy implementation of existing initiatives, including the Feed Ghana programme, the Ghana Grains Development Project, the Vegetable Development Project, Nkoko Nkitinkiti, and the Feed the Industry programme, all under the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA).
They also called for modern irrigation support—particularly solar-powered irrigation and other climate-resilient water systems—to enable year-round farming of crops and livestock.
Professor David Millar, an expert in agricultural and environmental sciences, added his voice to the call. He stated that empowering women farmers within the agricultural value chain was crucial for national food security. According to him, future agricultural policies must disaggregate data to better support both male and female farmers. “We need parallel programmes that directly benefit women farmers,” he stressed.
He also encouraged civil society groups and NGOs to design and implement support systems tailored specifically to women.
Dr Samuel Akonga, an Environment and Climate Change Consultant and lecturer at Bolgatanga Technical University, highlighted the importance of women understanding climate change. He said that climate awareness would help them adopt more effective farming techniques. “Their shift toward climate-smart agriculture will boost food production,” he noted. Dr Akonga also warned about the environmental impact of tree cutting, which he said was contributing to irregular rainfall in the north.
Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Fuseini Zakaria, reaffirmed the central role women play in agriculture. He urged them to be proactive in seizing opportunities from government and NGO-led initiatives to increase food production and improve their livelihoods.
