As the world observes the International Day of Rural Women, Ghana pauses to recognize and celebrate the indispensable contributions of rural women farmers.

These women, often the backbone of the country's agricultural production, continue to face systemic challenges that threaten their livelihoods and hinder their ability to maximize their potential. From lack of access to credit and land to the devastating effects of climate change, their struggles are many. Yet, their resilience remains a beacon of hope for the future of Ghana's agriculture.

In rural areas like the Anloga District in the Volta Region, where women are heavily involved in cultivating vegetables such as tomatoes, their work plays a vital role in sustaining local economies and feeding communities. Pearl Enam Makumator, Benedictor Amemawu, and Mawusi Auntia Sabblah are three such women whose daily struggles and determination shed light on the larger issues rural women farmers face.

The Backbone of Rural Agriculture

Women contribute approximately 50% of Ghana’s agricultural labor force, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Despite this, only about 20% of these women own the land they farm. Land ownership remains one of the most significant barriers to women’s agricultural productivity in rural Ghana, where cultural norms often prevent them from inheriting or purchasing land. Instead, many women are forced to farm on rented plots or family-owned land, which can be unstable and insecure.

Pearl Enam Makumator, a tomato farmer in Anloga, has been working the land for over a decade. Despite her experience, she constantly struggles with land insecurity. "The land I farm is not mine. Every year, I negotiate for a new lease, which makes it difficult to invest in long-term solutions like irrigation systems," Pearl explains. This uncertainty often means that women like Pearl cannot access formal credit from banks, as they lack collateral in the form of land titles.

Limited Access to Credit and Resources

For many rural women farmers, access to financial services is a critical challenge. Despite government programs aimed at supporting smallholder farmers, many rural women are excluded from these initiatives due to limited access to formal banking systems, inadequate collateral, or a lack of awareness about available financial products.

According to the 2022 Ghana National Agriculture Census, only about 10% of rural women farmers benefit from formal credit services. Pearl Makumator is one of the many farmers who feel the impact of this disparity. "We put in all this hard work, yet accessing loans or support is a constant battle. The high cost of inputs like seeds and fertilizers drains our pockets," she says.

In the Volta Region, Benedictor Amemawu echoes similar sentiments. She explains that although her tomato farm is productive, scaling her operations is almost impossible due to the cost of modern farming equipment and fertilizers. "Last season, I couldn’t afford enough fertilizer, and my crop yield dropped significantly," she says. "Without access to affordable credit, it’s difficult to improve or expand our farms."

Climate Change and Its Impact on Crop Production

One of the most pressing challenges rural women farmers face today is the impact of climate change. Unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and increasingly frequent floods have made farming more difficult and less reliable. In areas like Anloga, where vegetable farming is the primary livelihood, the changing climate is already taking a toll on production.

Benedictor Amemawu, a tomato farmer, knows this struggle all too well. "Last season, I lost nearly half of my crop due to an unexpected heavy rainstorm," she recalls. "We don’t have irrigation systems or drainage, so when it floods, all our hard work is destroyed." According to the Ghana Meteorological Agency, extreme weather events have become more frequent in recent years, and the effects are being felt most acutely by smallholder farmers, particularly women.

The 2021 report from the Ghana Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation highlights that climate-induced risks, including floods and droughts, have led to a 30% decline in crop yields for some regions in the country. In the Volta Region, where the majority of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, this decline poses a significant threat to food security and economic stability.

Infrastructure Challenges and Market Access

Beyond climate change and financial constraints, rural women farmers face significant challenges in accessing markets to sell their produce. Poor road networks and inadequate transportation infrastructure mean that many women struggle to get their goods to market on time, leading to post-harvest losses. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, rural farmers experience post-harvest losses of up to 40%, with women disproportionately affected due to their reliance on local markets with fewer resources for storage and transport.

Mawusi Auntia Sabblah, another tomato farmer from Anloga, has seen these losses firsthand. "By the time I get my tomatoes to the nearest market, a significant portion of the harvest has already spoiled," she says. "The roads are bad, and transportation is expensive. Even when we make it to the market, we have to compete with larger producers who can offer lower prices."

Improving infrastructure in rural areas is essential for reducing post-harvest losses and increasing the profitability of smallholder farms. Investing in better road networks, storage facilities, and transportation options could transform the ability of rural women farmers to access larger markets and earn a fair price for their produce.

Calls for Support and Empowerment

Thywil Eyra Kpe, the Volta Regional Director of the Gender Department, has been advocating for greater support for rural women farmers and fishers. In an interview, she emphasized that these women are crucial to the survival and development of their communities. "Rural women are the backbone of their communities," she said. "Their role in food production is crucial, yet they remain marginalized. We must encourage and provide them with the resources they need to thrive."

She called for increased investment in rural women farmers through initiatives that provide them with access to credit, land, modern technology, and training on climate-resilient farming practices. Kpe also highlighted the importance of gender inclusiveness in agricultural policies and decision-making processes. "It’s not enough to acknowledge their contributions; we must take concrete steps to empower these women and include them in decisions that affect their livelihoods," she added.

Government initiatives, such as the "Planting for Food and Jobs" program, have aimed to improve Ghana’s agricultural productivity. However, more needs to be done to ensure that these programs reach rural women farmers and address their specific challenges. Tailored programs that focus on the needs of women, including access to land ownership, affordable credit, and climate-smart agricultural technologies, could have a transformative impact.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As Ghana celebrates the International Day of Rural Women, the challenges faced by farmers like Pearl, Benedictor, and Mawusi serve as a stark reminder that much more needs to be done to empower these women. Their contributions to Ghana's food security and rural economy are invaluable, but their potential still needs to be tapped due to systemic barriers.

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach—one that includes improving access to land, providing affordable credit, investing in rural infrastructure, and developing climate-resilient farming practices. With the right support, rural women farmers can sustain their families, drive the growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector, and ensure a more food-secure future.

Empowering these women is not just a matter of equity; it is a matter of national development. The future of Ghana’s agriculture depends on its success, and it is time for both government and society to invest in the resilience and strength of the women who feed the nation, one harvest at a time.

The Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) Project

Recognizing the increased vulnerability of rural women to climate change, the Government of Canada has launched the Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) Project. SIGRA is a CAD 10.5 million initiative, implemented by Cowater International, which aims to increase resilience among Ghanaian citizens by promoting inclusive and gender-responsive climate adaptation measures. The project, which runs from 2023 to 2028, operates in Accra, three districts in the Northern Region, and two districts in the Volta Region, areas highly exposed to climate change risks.

SIGRA seeks to address the unique challenges faced by rural women and other vulnerable groups by strengthening climate adaptation planning and governance systems within key institutions of the Ghanaian public administration. This includes building institutional capacity to develop a gender-responsive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and enhancing access to climate finance. By partnering with women-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), SIGRA promotes the inclusion of women in decision-making processes related to climate adaptation, ensuring that their needs are prioritized in both planning and execution.

One of the key outcomes of the SIGRA project is the financing of local gender-responsive climate adaptation initiatives. Through grants, MMDAs in the Northern and Volta regions can support climate-smart agriculture, forestry, land management, water and sanitation facilities, and climate-resilient livelihoods—focusing specifically on women in agricultural value chains. By engaging women-led CSOs in these regions, SIGRA ensures that women have a direct voice in shaping climate adaptation strategies and accessing the resources they need to build resilient agricultural systems.

Strengthening Women’s Voices in Climate Adaptation

The SIGRA project’s focus on gender-responsive adaptation is critical to ensuring that women’s voices are heard in climate-related decision-making. Thywil Eyra Kpe, the Volta Regional Director of the Gender Department, emphasizes the importance of empowering women in rural areas to take leadership roles in climate adaptation. “These women are the backbone of their communities, but they are often left out of the decision-making processes that affect their lives,” she says. “We need to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities they need to thrive in a changing climate.”

Kpe calls for greater collaboration between local governments and women-led organizations to ensure that rural women farmers have access to climate finance, technology, and knowledge that can help them build resilience. “It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the challenges they face; we must actively involve them in the solutions,” she adds.

A Call to Action: Empowering Rural Women for a Sustainable Future

As Ghana celebrates the International Day of Rural Women, the stories of farmers like Pearl, Benedictor, and Mawusi serve as a powerful reminder that much remains to be done. Empowering rural women farmers is not only essential for their well-being but also critical for the future of Ghana’s agricultural sector and its ability to adapt to the growing threat of climate change.

Through initiatives like the SIGRA project, there is hope that the systemic barriers facing rural women farmers can be addressed. By improving access to credit, land, technology, and climate finance, and by ensuring that women are actively involved in decision-making processes, Ghana can build a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector—one that not only sustains livelihoods but also secures the nation’s food supply in the face of climate uncertainty.

As Kpe notes, “The future of our agriculture depends on these women, and it’s time we start investing in them—not just as farmers, but as leaders in climate adaptation and food security.” Empowering rural women is not just about equity; it’s about securing Ghana’s agricultural future, one harvest at a time.