Cocoa Hubs Project advances gender mainstreaming in rural agricultural service delivery

The Cocoa Hubs Project, spearheaded by Fairtrade Africa, is making strides to mainstream gender equality in rural agricultural services in Ghana's cocoa-growing zones. As part of this effort, the project, backed by Tropenbos Ghana and the Netherlands Embassy, recently held a training in Goaso, Ahafo Region, aimed at empowering women to take on leadership roles within Rural Service Centers (RSCs).

The workshop brought together female representatives from these RSCs to enhance their understanding of gender equality, inclusive leadership, and effective participation in decision-making processes.

Salma Suhuyini Fuseini, the Project Coordinator for Fairtrade Africa, explained that the Cocoa Hubs Project currently supports 21 RSCs in six primary cocoa-producing regions. Their aim is to turn these hubs into sustainable, commercially viable, and inclusive service providers. Fuseini stressed that the training is a direct response to the project's commitment to ensure women and youth are not just passive recipients of agricultural interventions, but active leaders, entrepreneurs, and drivers of economic growth in the cocoa sector.

The beneficiaries of the workshop, such as Bertha Akamal and Celina Darko, applauded the initiative as a timely measure to address gender disparities in rural cocoa communities. They emphasized that while RSCs have long advocated for women's empowerment, targeted capacity building is essential for leveling the playing field for women in agriculture.

The participants argued that investing in women directly boosts farm yields, strengthens rural livelihoods, and expands Ghana's national food basket and cash crop exports. They highlighted that women farmers consistently demonstrate prudence, efficiency, and diligence in their agricultural practices, whether it's applying inputs, managing field operations, or repaying loans on time.