Some members of the Savannah Women Farmers Association in the Northern Region have undergone a day’s training to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills in the agricultural sector.
The participants, numbering 53, were selected leaders of the Association, and were drawn from 24 communities in the five operational districts of the Association namely Savelugu, Mion, Nanton, Tolon and Kumbungu.
The communities included Tampion, Jegun Kukuo, Nyeko, Looni, Nanton, Laligu, Sakpeem, Kpendua, Boggu, Kpalin Yapalsi and Kpilo.
The rest were Dul-Zugu, Gupanarigu, Kanfihayili, Napagyili, Kpalsong, Sibgun, Gurumanchayili, Gbrimani, Koblimahagu , Sakpe, Disi Kura, Nadundo and Kpachiyili.
The training was organised by the Association with funding support from the Food and Agriculture Organization under its Forest and Farm Facilities Activity in Ghana.
Mr Useni Kabiru, Programme Coordinator, Savannah Women Farmers Association, speaking during the training in Tamale, said it was to improve the understanding of participants on advocacy, networking and to enable them raise funds to carry out activities at the community level.
He said it was also to sharpen their leadership skills to help them coordinate activities of the groups in the communities for more sustainable agricultural practices.
He said the training was designed to enhance participants’ ability to advocate for policies and programmes in the agricultural sector to ensure that women were not marginalised in the area.
Mr Baako Abdulai Mumuni, a retired Director of Agriculture at the Savelugu Municipality, who facilitated the training, emphasised the importance of effective leadership, saying a leader must be visionary, good listener, selfless, honest, hardworking, knowledgeable and be ready to serve.
He underscored need for participants to create a more conducive environment for all persons in their groups irrespective of their sex, religion, ethnicity, race, ability or inability to enhance inclusivity.
He urged them to prioritise developing a more comprehensive and realistic financial budget and goals to help advocate for more support to implement their activities in the communities.
Madam Sirina Ziblim, a participant from Kpendua community in the Savelugu Municipality, said, “This training workshop has exposed us to ways we can advocate for opportunities in the agricultural sector as well as how to engage chiefs and traditional authorities to acquire lands for farming activities.”
She said it had also equipped them with the needed skills to advocate for other services in the sector, including the need for agricultural extension agents and officers to enhance crop yields and production.
Source: GNA
