The High Commissioner of Australia to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting Ghanaian women in agriculture with essential tools and partnerships aimed at boosting food security and improving livelihoods.
She reiterated Australia’s support through research partnerships, knowledge exchange, and practical initiatives targeting climate-resilient farming and smallholder farmers across Ghana and other African countries.
These efforts are being implemented through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Direct Aid Program, which focus on strengthening agricultural resilience and enhancing productivity among women farmers.
The strategic support from the Australian government complements initiatives by the Agrihouse Foundation, which continues to champion women’s empowerment within the agricultural sector. Women contribute an estimated 52% of the agricultural labour force, produce about 70% of food crops, and constitute nearly 90% of labour in the marketing of farm produce, making them a critical force in Ghana’s agrifood system.
The support was highlighted during the 8th Gathering of Royals, which convened Queen Mothers, Market Queens, agribusiness champions, stakeholders, and political actors to dialogue, provide mentorship, and introduce practical interventions within Ghana’s agricultural value chain. The event was held under the theme, “Seeds of Change: From Leadership to Legacy – Women Transforming the Agrifood System.”
High Commissioner Owen-Jones underscored that investing in women farmers strengthens households, communities, and future generations. She noted that empowering women within agriculture remains one of the most effective pathways to improving food security and promoting sustainable development.
She also credited Queen Mothers as custodians of culture and trusted voices within their communities, emphasising that their advocacy for women’s access to land, markets, and investment is critical to strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chain. According to her, when Queen Mothers champion issues such as land access and fair markets, their influence helps accelerate meaningful change.
“When you invest in a woman farmer, you invest in her household, her community, and the next generation.. When Queen Mothers speak on issues like access to land, fair markets, and investment in rural women, people listen” she said.
Through partnerships led by ACIAR, funding and logistical support will be provided to help smallholder farmers adopt climate-resilient practices, strengthen women’s participation and leadership in agriculture, and build Africa–Australia research collaborations aimed at enhancing innovation and agricultural productivity.
One example of this collaboration is an ACIAR-supported livestock stakeholder workshop held in Accra, where researchers, policymakers, and development partners from West Africa and Australia identified priority areas for collaborative research under the Africa-Australia Partnership.
These priorities included year-round access to quality feed and fodder, stronger animal health and genetics, and improved water access and management, all key areas aimed at boosting livestock productivity and strengthening food systems.
At the event, the Agrihouse Foundation, in collaboration with its sponsors and partners, also supported Queen Mothers across all 16 regions of Ghana with poultry starter packs, including more than 4,800 day-old chicks and essential farming inputs such as vaccines, cages, and feed.
The support packages, described as “business-in-a-box” starter kits, were designed to ensure the survival and profitability of the birds. The kits included improved Dutch genetics for superior growth and disease resistance, premium feed and vaccines for early-stage protection, and practical farming equipment such as feeding and watering trays to help small-scale farmers transition toward more professional poultry operations.
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