The Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC), has identified the lack of gender inclusion in a number of Government’s social intervention programmes, particularly the policy on Planting for Food and Jobs.
According to the Coalition, an on-going baseline research has revealed that although more women are into agriculture, their specific needs had not been mainstreamed in government’s poverty reduction intervention programmes.
These came to light at an interactive session with journalists in the Upper East Region on gender-responsive budgeting, which seeks to integrate gender dimensions into policy interventions and programmes.
According to the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition although Ghana’s economy is growing steadily with various sectors receiving significant boost, little attention is being paid to vulnerable groups like women and persons with disabilities.
It said government’s agricultural revolutionary program “Planting for Food and Jobs” does not clarify how it will benefit women and other vulnerable groups.
The Co-ordinator of the GTLC, Ibrahim Akalbila said data from the Upper East, West and Northern regions show that there is the need for government to review its policy on support for women and vulnerable groups.
Mr. Akalbila decried the high cost of ploughing as well as farm inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals among others, which have deterred farmers from cultivating large fields to increase food production.
The Policy Officer of GTLC, Emmanuel Wullingdool, indicated that the coalition is committed to providing farmers with mechanized services and capacity building in order to improve crop production.
He added that the coalition has already assisted small holder farmers to establish ‘Village Savings and Loans’ to help them to have access to credits and loans.
