Female farmers in Volta and the five regions of the north are struggling to access arable lands for farming activities owing to traditional beliefs that prohibit them from owning a parcel of land.

That’s according to the Ghana Association of Female Agricultural and Fish Farmers Award Winners who are spearheading negotiations to break the cultural bias and norm to allow more women into farming.

Chairperson of the association, Ernestina Osei Tutu, says many female farmers in rural communities continue to face the challenge despite forming almost half the labour force in the agricultural sector.

“In Ghana, women cannot access lands easily. It isn’t every part of Ghana but mostly in the North and Volta regions. In southern it is there but not to the extreme. Women, culturally, are not forthcoming. We also do not have equipment for the job,” she said.

In Ghana, women form at least 40% of the workforce in the agricultural space, but they continue to grapple with numerous challenges that hinder their progress.

Spanning inaccessibility to farming inputs to financial assistance, some female farmers also bear the brunt when acquiring arable lands for farming activities. 

Speaking at the first anniversary of the Ghana Association of Female Agricultural and Fish Farmers Award Winners, Chairperson of the group, Ernestina Osei Tutu indicated that some customary beliefs are thwarting women's quest to own lands in parts of Ghana.

The association is working to end the cultural bias aimed at ensuring the country’s food security.

“We the association leaders are talking to the land owners and other things to make women farm with ease,” she added.

The government says it remains resolved in supporting women in the agricultural space, especially under its planting for food and jobs phase two.

Deputy Agriculture Minister in charge of Crops, Yaw Frimpong Addo is encouraging the women to leverage the opportunities under the new phase of the government’s flagship program.

“Women everywhere in Ghana are being encouraged to register their pieces of land. Once you get the land and you’re registered, we give every input to you so you become a woman entrepreneur in agriculture,” he said.

Established in 2023, the association seeks to become the mouthpiece of marginalized women farmers across the country.

Partners for the group, Policy Link, is reiterating their commitment to supporting farmers in the country, especially women.

The group also inducted new members who were female winners from the 2023 Farmers’ Day celebration.