The Director of Women in Agriculture Development at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ms Paulina Addy has urged women engaged in various agribusinesses to research into the needs of consumers in order to identify and meet their evolving demands, adding that this would help them drive up sales and become resilient in the sector.
Speaking at Ignite 2020, an annual agribusiness programme organized by Guzakuza, a non government organization which seeks to empower African women to build sustainable food businesses across the continent and beyond, Ms Paulina Addy explained that building sustainable agribusinesses was key to improving their livelihood and that of their dependants as well as their contribution to the socio-economic growth of their countries.
The WIAD Director also encouraged the participants to do a proper analysis of the agricultural value chain and tap into the opportunities available in the sector due to the enormous benefits it provides. She revealed that the sector is endowed with so much benefits which requires determination, focus and desire for excellence to explore, adding that MoFA would through such engagements and other avenues help women to flourish in the sector.
Unami Mpofu, a representative from the African Union Development Agency, urged participants not to downplay their impact in the economic growth of their country but continue to strive and be change-makers in their various communities. Nana Adjoa Sifa, the Initiator of Guzakuza, also encouraged participants to build a stronger force and be a voice to women in agribusiness in Africa, adding that the participants must demonstrate good leadership skills, influence and impact as agripreneurs.
Aggregate data shows that women comprise about 48 percent of the agricultural labour force globally and in developing countries. Thus, women represent a crucial resource in agriculture and in rural economies. As farmers, horticulturists and market sellers, businesswomen, entrepreneurs and community leaders, they fulfil important roles throughout agri-food value chains. Efforts by national governments and the international community to achieve their goals for agricultural development, economic growth and food security cannot be strengthened and accelerated if they do not build on the contributions that women make and take steps to alleviate constraints they face.
Having realized that young women in Agribusiness find it difficult to scale up due to factors like inadequate technical know-how, market access limitation and a lack of mentorship, Guzakuza has since 2016 trained and provided opportunities and served as a platform for female agribusiness founders to be educated, nurtured and empowered to build sustainable food businesses. It has also built the capacity of women on how to improve their business models and their personal development through mentorship, coaching, internship, business simulations and relevant trainings.
This year’s event, which was virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was on the theme ‘Amplifying her Agvoice’, attended by 120 women from 15 African countries, experts and key players from various part of the agricultural sector.
