By: Christopher Pappoe | Voltaonlinegh.com |
The Mechanisation Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) on Friday, September 7 launched Women in Driving Seat programme at the Adidome Farm Institute in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
According to the Ministry, the programme seeks to develop women’s skills in managing agricultural machinery and equipment for enhanced agricultural productivity in Ghana. The objectives they said are to increase women’s employability and earning potentials particularly in the field of mechanised agriculture.
The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Mr George Oduro who was present to launch the programme on behalf of the government, lauded the Ministry for coming up with such a laudable idea that involves women.
He promised the participants a secured job after the programme and added that it is government’s plan to get more women involved in agriculture especially in mechanisation. He added that government has planned to build mechanisation centres across the country and that he will ensure women who have undergone the Women in Driving Seat programme manage these centres.
Mr Anthony Morrison who is the Chief Executive Officer  of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana commended the Ministry for making efforts to balance gender in all they do and asked the women to be strong and never quit since many of them might find things difficult along the line.
He advised them against the notion that some jobs are for men only and some also for women only and asked that more women take advantage of the Chamber’s upcoming West Africa Drones and Censors Conference which will come off from 16th-18th October this year in order to network with value chain actors from other countries.
The Director in charge of Women in Agriculture at MoFA, Madam Paulina Ardey in explaining the concept of Women in Driving Seat, said Ghanaian women can be found in different aspects of the value chain except for land preparation, thus, the Ministry has decided to institute the programme to introduce women to tractor driving and maintenance.
The programme is set to last for one month after which trainees are expected to acquire the necessary knowledge and practical skills to operate, maintain tractors and its related equipment.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
