The Sustainable Development, Human Rights Inclusion, and Empowerment (SHINE) Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Canadian Feed the Children, has made significant strides in improving food security and empowering women farmers in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
At a closing event in Bolgatanga, project implementers presented validated findings highlighting its successes.
The project not only increased agricultural yields and incomes for women farmers but also bolstered agribusiness activities and introduced gender-inclusive policies in local governance structures.
One of the key objectives of the SHINE Project was to enhance agricultural production by providing women farmers with the necessary resources and training. Mr. Augustine N-Yorkuni Country Director of Canadian Feed the Children, outlined the scope and impact of the project.
“The project is on vegetable cultivation and with the value chains of production, marketing, and then processing. The project is a $2,000,000 project and it is run in Ghana and in Ethiopia. In four districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana and in 16 communities, the project targeted 800 smallholder women farmers—vulnerable women farmers. So, the project empowered women to undertake agribusiness activities.”
Mr. Augustine N-Yorkuni Country Director of Canadian Feed the Children
Through the provision of improved farm inputs and machinery, women farmers were able to enhance their crop production. The project also facilitated small-scale businesses, helping them to become viable enterprises.
Building Sustainable Agribusiness Opportunities
The SHINE Project was not only about immediate agricultural support but also about creating long-term sustainable agribusiness opportunities. Women farmers were supported in processing and marketing vegetables, ensuring they could access better markets and improve their incomes. The incubation hub initiative played a crucial role in this, offering small business owners training and mentorship to grow their enterprises.
Mr. Nicholas Apokerah, Executive Director of Trade Aid Integrated, an implementing partner of the SHINE Project, emphasized the outcome of the initiative.
“The project largely was very successful. We achieved many of our targets and exceeded many of them as well. We aim to take up some of the actions that were implemented by the project to carry them forward. For example, the incubation is something that we did or carry on and then work with the farmers to recruit more incubatees.”
Mr. Nicholas Apokerah Executive Director of Trade Aid Integrated
This commitment to continuity ensures that the benefits of the project will extend beyond its initial three-year timeframe, allowing more farmers to benefit from its interventions.
A key component of the SHINE Project was its focus on gender inclusiveness. Recognizing the challenges faced by women in the agricultural sector, the project implemented training programs for male farmers to help them appreciate and support the role of women in farming.
Furthermore, the initiative influenced local governance by revising gender-related bylaws, integrating them into district assembly regulations, and ensuring they were officially gazetted.
These policy changes are expected to provide long-term benefits by fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in agriculture.
The overall impact of the SHINE Project has been evident in improved food security and enhanced livelihoods for participating women farmers. The combination of increased agricultural yields, better market access, and sustainable agribusiness development has led to higher incomes and greater economic independence for women in the region.
By addressing both immediate agricultural needs and long-term systemic barriers, the project has provided a model for inclusive agricultural development that could be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges.
As stakeholders continue to build on the project’s successes, the hope is that more women will be able to access the resources and opportunities needed to thrive in agribusiness, ensuring a more food-secure and economically stable future for rural communities in Ghana.
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