Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Women in Ghana play a major role in Ghana�´s agriculture development producing approximately 70 percent of the country�´s food stock yet they lack access to information, technology, ready market, training, and opportunities to develop essential skills limiting them from operating their farms as a business. Also, they are largely locked out of having access to or owning land and obtaining financial services due to limited education and other social and cultural barriers. SheFarms is an on-farm incubator to inspire rural young women to make income and impact through climatesmart vegetable farming. SheFarmers will go through a series of hands-on training sessions, coaching, and mentoring to equip them with the necessary agri-entrepreneurial and technical skills they need to start and/or run their own farms. These hands-on training will include good agricultural practices, handling and storage, financial literacy, leadership skills, technology, etc. They will be trained on how to integrate human activities into the natural environment to protect the climate, promote biodiversity, produce safe and healthy foods, and sustain farmlands for future generations. Some of the women will receive training and hydroponics setups and operation. They will be provided access to market and form a cooperative to support each other â��s agribusiness. Through SheFarms project, women who form a large part of the agriculture value chain in Ghana yet have limited access to information, technology, inputs, training, and opportunities will have access to these resources to start/run successful farms. They will also build the confidence needed to speak out, train others, and successfully run their business. Main Goal: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agriculture practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disaster and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

Biography

Henry Cofie Fordi is a Development Planner and an Agriprenuer with over 7 years of experience working with people especially women and youth in the agribusiness sector. He is a founding member of Guzakuza, an organization committed to equipping women with tools and resources to build resilient agribusiness in Africa. He is also the manager for Access Agric an online agriculture news portal that provides a platform to publish, promote and access agriculture news and events. Henry Cofie Fordi is passionate about empowering women using agriculture, providing training in sustainable agricultural practices, and working with communities to protect the climate and biodiversity, promote food security and sustain farmlands for future generations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies (Development Communication option). He is a Gender Makes Business Sense for Facilitators & Mentors German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).