Breaking Barriers: Empowering rural women agripreneurs through e-learning

Techiman, Ghana: Commonly known as the “Food Basket of Ghana” and one of West Africa's largest trading markets, Techiman, recently came alive with nearly 200 rural agripreneurs gathering to celebrate the International Day for Rural Women on October 15. This event spotlighted the invaluable contributions of rural women to agriculture and rural development.

In many countries, agrifood systems serve as a more vital source of livelihood for women than for men. According to the FAO's 2023 report, 66% of women’s employment is in agrifood systems, compared to 60% for men in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural women are essential to agribusiness, constituting a significant portion of the agrifood systems labour force.

Despite their crucial role, women often face daunting barriers to accessing essential resources such as education and training. Recognizing this challenge, the celebration emphasised the need for gender equality in the agricultural sector, advocating for equal access to education, and technology.

The Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF), a project of German development cooperation, seized the opportunity to present their Agribusiness e-Academy’s free, self-paced agribusiness online courses to empower rural women agripreneurs with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s agricultural landscape.

Excitingly, several women agripreneurs stepped up as Agribusiness e-Academy Ambassadors, committing to promote the e-learning courses within their communities. These ambassadors will play a vital role in fostering a culture of learning and empowerment, ensuring that more women can benefit from the available courses.

The event featured insightful discussions from the Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Techiman, Mr. Stephen Aidoo, and various agricultural organisations, including Agrico Hub, Samhills Limited and Tasfam Cooperative. Women agripreneurs shared their challenges and successes, creating a supportive community that encouraged collaboration and innovation.

By investing in the education and empowerment of rural women, ABF jointly with the present stakeholders take a significant step toward eradicating poverty and achieving the sustainable development goals. Empowering rural women agripreneurs through e-learning is not just a goal; it represents a pathway to a brighter, more inclusive future for all. The commitment of ABF’s new Agribusiness e-Academy Ambassadors signals a promising step toward this vision, paving the way for transformative change in rural communities.