Agrihouse Foundation, an agricultural advocacy NGO, over the weekend, launched its monthly agric exhibition for women dubbed “Agri-Woman Marketplace”. The Agri-Woman Marketplace seeks to create smart and easy market for women in the agricultural sector. The maiden edition attracted 25 exhibitors from the Volta, Northern, Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Greater Regions.

Speaking during the opening ceremony the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said the Agri-woman marketplace is tailored-made for women, with women and by women.

She said the program, fully funded by her foundation, is their contribution to women development in agriculture, particularly agribusiness

The Executive Director noted that women play a key role in the agricultural sector, the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. Despite the several contributions of women, she complained that there is no market platform for them to showcase their products and services.

“We just want people to know that women are playing a key role within the value chain right from production to marketing and we need our voices to be heard.”
Albert Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director

In an interview with the CEO of Mazia Co. Enterprise, Florence Tomazia Cossou said the lack of capital has affected her company’s expansion drive.

According to her, Mazia Honey and Natural tea enjoyed impressive patronage during Covid-19 lockdown. However, due to lack of financial support, the company was unable to meet the demands.

She is, therefore, appealing to government to support companies such as hers. This will enable them to expand their production to meet the growing demand for both local and export markets.

Background

In times that accessing markets, sustaining and building resilience for women towards full recovery and growth, has become so critical, Agrihouse Foundation introduces this new innovative space – the AgriWoman marketplace for Women farmers and Agribusinesses only.

It is both a physical and digital module of a Farmers’ Market platform. It is intentionally designed for women farmers and agribusinesses, by women and with women. The platform has two components, a 24-hour online buy and sell and a monthly direct farmers’ market.

This innovation provides agribusinesses and farmers the opportunity to expand, promote and access other market avenues for their agri-products, services, crops, livestock and other produce with convenience, both online and in cleaner and safer spaces. Also, the AgriWoman Marketplace equally benefits households to access agri-products and services easily and enhance their nutrition.

Agrihouse is championing a community support agriculture transformational program, to drive innovative sales and marketing for women in agriculture.