How Women in Saltpond Are Growing Food and Income with Our Support

• Admin

Introduction

In many rural parts of Ghana, women are the backbone of farming communities, yet they often lack access to resources, training, and market opportunities. At EA. Aquaye Farms Ltd, we believe in inclusive growth, and that means putting women at the center of agricultural development.

In 2023, we launched a targeted Women in Agriculture Training Program in Saltpond, a vibrant town in the Central Region. This initiative focused on equipping 50 women with the skills and tools to establish home gardens and small-scale farms—transforming their roles from food preparers to food producers and entrepreneurs.

The Vision Behind the Program

The goal was simple:

• Boost food security at the household level

• Enhance income-generating capacity

• Build long-term resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges

We collaborated with local women’s associations and community leaders to recruit beneficiaries and tailor the training to their real needs.

What We Offered

1. Practical Training Modules

   • Sustainable gardening techniques

   • Soil health and composting

   • Organic pest control

   • Water-saving irrigation practices

   • Harvesting and post-harvest handling

2. Starter Kits
   Each woman received a kit including hybrid seeds (tomatoes, okra, pepper), simple gardening tools, and access to organic compost produced at our demo site.

3. Business & Market Readiness
   We went beyond farming basics. The women learned about record keeping, pricing strategies, and how to package their goods for local sales or small markets.

The Impact

📈 70% of the women successfully established productive gardens within 3 months
💰 Average monthly household income rose by 20–30% from vegetable sales
🌱 Over 15 women are now collaborating to form a local produce cooperative

Many of the participants reported improved nutrition at home, lower food expenses, and newfound confidence in their ability to contribute to their families and communities.

What the Participants Are Saying

“Before this, I used to buy vegetables every day. Now, I grow them myself and even sell the extras. I’ve saved more money and my children are eating better.”
— Afua N., Saltpond

“EA. Aquaye Farms showed us that farming is not just for men. We are strong too, and we can succeed.”
— Mabel A., Program Beneficiary

Next Steps

Due to the overwhelming success of the Saltpond pilot, we are preparing to scale this program to nearby communities in Mankessim and Elmina. We aim to reach 200+ women in 2024, with additional support for irrigation, agro-processing, and cooperative development.