Sustained support from Global Affairs Canada through the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum and Expo (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards is helping to build a stronger and more inclusive agricultural economy by empowering thousands of rural women to become successful agribusiness owners, processors, and value-chain actors.
Over the past eight years, the partnership has impacted more than 12,000 women farmers, farmers with disabilities, agribusiness entrepreneurs, processors, and marketers across Ghana, providing them with training, mentorship, market exposure, and leadership development opportunities that have strengthened their participation in the agricultural sector.
The initiative, implemented by Agrihouse Foundation, has evolved from an awards and recognition platform into a catalyst for rural enterprise development, supporting women to transition from subsistence farming into commercially viable agricultural businesses.
Agriculture remains a major contributor to Ghana’s economy and a critical source of employment, particularly in rural communities. However, limited access to training, finance, technology, and markets has historically constrained the growth potential of many women-led agricultural enterprises.
Through WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards, thousands of women have acquired the skills and networks needed to improve productivity, expand operations, and create sustainable sources of income.
The programme’s impact is increasingly evident across agricultural value chains, where beneficiaries are moving beyond primary production into processing, packaging, transportation, and marketing activities that generate higher returns and create employment opportunities.
Many beneficiaries who previously operated as smallholder farmers have expanded into agro-processing businesses, acquired modern equipment, and developed products capable of competing in local and international markets.
Others have invested in transportation services to improve market access and reduce post-harvest losses, strengthening the efficiency of agricultural supply chains.
The transformation is contributing to rural economic growth by increasing household incomes, creating jobs, and stimulating business activity within farming communities.
A key feature of the initiative has been its focus on inclusion. Women farmers with disabilities have been provided with platforms to showcase their achievements and access opportunities that enable them to participate more fully in Ghana’s agricultural economy.
Industry observers note that empowering women within agriculture delivers broader economic benefits because women often reinvest earnings into family welfare, education, and community development, creating multiplier effects that extend beyond individual enterprises.
The Gold in the Soil Awards has also emerged as one of Ghana’s leading agricultural recognition platforms, raising the profile of women-led agribusinesses and encouraging greater investment in female entrepreneurship within the sector.
Global Affairs Canada’s support aligns with efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, gender equality, food security, and sustainable agricultural development. By investing in women entrepreneurs, the programme is helping to unlock economic opportunities in rural areas while supporting national objectives to modernise agriculture and strengthen food systems.
The initiative has directly and indirectly impacted approximately 20,000 beneficiaries, with many award recipients and trainees going on to mentor fellow farmers, establish farmer groups, and introduce improved farming and processing practices within their communities.
As Ghana seeks to accelerate agricultural transformation and reduce food import dependence, stakeholders say women-led agribusinesses will play an increasingly important role in boosting production, improving value addition, and creating jobs along agricultural value chains.
This year’s WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards, scheduled to take place in the Savannah Region, is expected to deepen that impact by bringing together approximately 1,000 women farmers, including previous award winners and beneficiaries of the Canada-supported Feed Ghana Initiative and Farmer Service Centres.
The event will provide opportunities for business networking, market linkages, mentorship, knowledge exchange, and investment discussions aimed at helping women-led enterprises scale their operations and access new markets.
For many participants, the gathering represents more than a celebration of achievement. It serves as a platform for building commercial partnerships, sharing business success stories, and exploring strategies to increase productivity and competitiveness within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
After eight years of partnership, Global Affairs Canada’s continued support is demonstrating how targeted investments in women farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs can generate lasting economic impact, strengthen rural livelihoods, and contribute to Ghana’s broader agricultural and economic transformation agenda.
