By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh |
Farmer and seed grower, Connie Nyador has emerged winner of the overall award in the maiden edition of Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Forum and Expo (WOFAGRIC 2019) and the Gold in the Soil Awards.
Madam Nyador’s, award, Gold in the Soil Award, the ultimate award was in appreciation of her outstanding achievements in producing along the entire agricultural value chain and a recognition of the impact of her establishment to her community.
The award to the Director of Fosuah Food Chain who has large plantation of food crops including cassava and yam and also a yam seed growing technologies in the Tongu area was received on her behalf by her sister, Mama Alorvi II of Dorfor-Agorveme.
The WOFAGRIC 2019 and the Gold in the Soil Awards came off from 12th-13th June 2019 in Ho, Volta Region, themed, “Women! Key Partners in Shaping Agribusiness”.
The 2-day forum and awards organised under the leadership of Agrihouse Foundation with other implementing partners like Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Women in Food and Agriculture Development, National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association, Ghana (NFFAWAG) and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) with support from Canada and four committed industry firms, Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Yara Ghana, Interplast and Sidalco.
The 2-day event paid tribute to the efforts and contribution by women, young female ‘agripreneurs’, physically challenged women, agricultural corporate leaders, innovators, and traditional leaders for their roles towards ensuring food security in the country.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa in a speech said women comprised a greater percentage of the workforce in the agricultural sector and “we cannot afford to treat women in agric with hands of levity.”
Madam Akosa among others, called for affirmative action to ensure the success of rural women involved in about 80 percent of agricultural production in Ghana because to her, women had been left out when it came to conversations regarding the sector.
“Despite their central importance to agriculture which sees women produce a great chunk of our food, women are sadly excluded from conversations that determine agricultural policies while unfair laws and practices deprive them of their land, their rights and their livelihoods.”
Chairman of NFFAWAG, Davies Narh Korboe mentioned the important contribution of women to agriculture saying, it explained why women had in recent years featured prominently in the National Farmers Day Celebrations and hoped to see “a woman winning the ultimate in subsequent years.”
Mr. Korboe said the choice of Volta Region for the maiden edition of the Awards “goes to testify that a lot of women award winners in farming and fishing come from the region and the region’s contribution to the country’s agriculture is generally commendable.”
Chief Executive Director of Sidalco Group of Companies, Rev. Dr. Gifty Lamptey congratulated organisers of the event for the initiative saying, there was the need to recognise and support women to succeed in the agriculture space.
Rev. Dr. Lamptey said the African Continent kept spending billions of US dollars to feed itself and citizens “must rise quickly to unlock the full potential of our agribusiness” to arrest the importations but noted that “this cannot be done if women who constitute over 50 per cent of our population are sidelined.”
She said Africa had enough uncultivated land which should be utilised for the continent to develop with pride, encouraging women and girls to look beyond the stereotypes and get into agriculture while calling on the youth to farm saying, “there’s gold in the soil.”
Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa said it was not by accident that the region ranked the number 1 producer of rice in the country hosted the maiden forum and awards.
He commended the organisers for the awards to recognise hardworking women and pledged VRCC’s support and commitment to the laudable course.
Full list of winners of WOFAGRIC 2019 and the Gold in the Soil Awards
Passion for the Farm Award –Gladys Adzo Doe, Dr. Archibald Letsa,
Woman in Extension Services Award – No winner
She-innovates Award – Eunice Nuku
Super Woman Award – Beatrice Nagbonu (Person with disability)
Star in Agric Award – Mary Dornoo
Diamond in the Rough Award – Theresa Ama Agbovi
Feed to Food Award – Eva Atitsogbui
Royal Agro Award – Mama Ayipe Ama III, Queenmother, Abutia-Kloe
Lady of the Region Export Award – Rosalind Delali Ashigbui
Change Champion Award – Edith Richland Akorsah and Benedicta Tamekloe
Climate-Smart Women Project Award – No winner
Princess Carla Award – Janet Adade
Development Partner Award – Canadian High Commission
Gold in the Soil Award – Connie Nyador
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com