Smallholder Women Farmers Call for Inclusive Agricultural Policies at 2026 IWD Commemoration in Tamale.

The Northern Regional Programme of ActionAid Ghana, in partnership with the Regional Smallholder Women Farmers Movement (SHWM), commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day in Kakpagyili, Tamale, under the theme “Give to Gain: Investing in Safety, Dignity and Justice for Women and Girls.”

The event, organized in collaboration with the leadership of SHWM, convened traditional authorities, government representatives, women farmers, civil society actors, and the media to amplify the voices of rural women and spotlight the structural challenges confronting women farmers. The gathering served as a platform for collective advocacy, dialogue, and renewed commitment toward policy reforms and practical interventions that support women’s empowerment in agriculture.

According to SHWM leaders, smallholder women farmers remain the backbone of Ghana’s food systems, playing a vital role in sustaining household nutrition and strengthening local economies. Despite their indispensable contribution, women farmers continue to face systemic barriers, including limited access to productive resources, weak agricultural support systems, and the loss of farmlands due to rapid urbanization.

Participants called for gender-responsive agricultural policies and services that respond to the lived realities of women farmers. Key demands included improved access to agricultural extension services, greater inclusion of women in local agricultural planning and decision-making processes, and stronger investments in post-harvest management and storage infrastructure to reduce crop losses. The women also emphasized the need for alternative livelihood support in communities where environmental changes and urban expansion are constraining farming activities.

In response, the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Agriculture reaffirmed government’s recognition of the critical role women play across the entire agricultural value chain — from land preparation and planting to processing and marketing. He disclosed that this recognition has informed the decision to allocate at least 40 percent of the Feed Ghana Project to women, a commitment aimed at strengthening women’s participation and benefits within the sector.

He further assured stakeholders that his office will work to ensure the full implementation of this commitment, while also prioritizing the meaningful inclusion of women in the planning, design, and implementation of agricultural policies and programmes in the metropolis.

The commemoration reinforced the collective resolve of stakeholders to advance safety, dignity, and justice for women and girls, while strengthening the agency of smallholder women farmers as key drivers of Ghana’s food security and sustainable development.

Written by Alia Mumuni and Jacqueline Parditey.