Women appeal for credit to expand farms

Women small-holder farmers in the Nanumba South District have appealed to the Government and its development partners to assist them to acquire loans, to enable them to expand their farms.

Madam Addisa Abulai, a 45-year-old farmer from Nasamba in the district, made the appeal on behalf of the women, said they cultivate yam and maize, an activity perceived by the people.

She told the GNA that the intervention of ActionAid  Ghana  and Songtaba, both non-governmental organisations operating in the area, had helped women to venture into tuber and cereal cultivation.

Madam Abulai said: “ ActionAid Ghana has encouraged me to take good care of my children, provide them with their basic needs’’.

Mrs Azumi Mesuna, Project Manager of Women’s Rights to Sustainable Livelihoods of ActionAid Ghana, said her outfit was implementing a three-and-half-year project on Leadership and Opportunities for Women (FLOW) in selected districts in the Northern and Upper East Regions funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She said the project was targeting women smallholder farmers in the beneficiary districts to empower them economically.

Mrs Mesuna  said that about 500 women had already been assisted in the Nanumba North and Nanumba South districts to acquire lands for farming and certified seeds would be provided to them this farming season.

She said the project sought to improve food security for women and their households and to build their leadership skills to demand change in public policy.

Mr Mahama Amadu Jaama, Programmes Officer of Songtaba, said the concept of the project was to project the positive part of women to make their husbands see them as partners in development.

Source: GNA