The African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) has emphasized that various factors are hindering their meaningful recognition in the animal resource sector.
The women group cried out during the launch of the Regional chapter of the network at the Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries tradeshow in Accra. During the launch, the President of AWARF-N, Ghana chapter, and the Vice president of the West Africa Region, Madam Victoria Norgbey said the women network is an apex Pan-African network to promote transformation and greater investment in women-led animal resources farming and agribusiness.
“AWARFA-N is a platform to promote more meaningful and beneficial participation of women in animal resources for resilient and sustainable livelihoods, and to drive a greater orientation of women into competitive and profitable agribusiness, marketing and trade”, she narrated.
To her, the structural constraints have grossly affected women’s access to equitable benefits from their labor and efforts in the sector, but the network would thrust their effort by and large in the sector.
The president called all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector to rally behind the network to promote women’s activities in the animal resources sector.
Speaking to the issue, the Director of agriculture, National Coordinator-AnGR, Madam Margaret Mary Sumah voiced that women almost everywhere face more severe constraints than men in access to productive resources.
In order for the national government and the international community to achieve their goals for agricultural development, economic growth, and food security be strengthened and accelerated, they should build on women’s contribution and alleviate the constraints.
She urged the women never to quench the fire that has been lighted but they should continue to fight for a common purpose to maintain, promote and transform the animal resources sector.
Dr. Joannishka Dsani, speaking on behalf of the Director of Veterinary Service Directorate also added that women are the most hardworking in the world, yet they are the poorest, but this is the time for things to change for the nation and the generations to come.
“My fellow women in Agric, this is a wonderful time for us to change things. For the sake of our children and our nation. It is time for us to build some of the most successful animal resource businesses to bring revenue, employment opportunities, improve the livelihoods of our fellow women and cause our country Ghana to shine”, she underscored.
She assured that the Veterinary service has opened its doors to support the initiative right from the preliminary stage through the value chain. “As a Veterinary lady officer and the staff, we are here to support and to encourage at every step at the basic level, on the farms, vaccination, laboratory level, etc. we commend them and we hope that the network would expand”, she assured.
She ended her speech with a quote, “if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.’ Now, we need to change this to ‘if you support a woman’s business, you enrich the nation!”.
