Empowering Women in Agribusiness: Leveraging AfCFTA, Digitalization, and Climate Resilience for Sustainable Growth

The Ashanti Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Reverend Dr. John Manu, has encouraged women in agribusiness to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at the launch of the Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW) in Kumasi, he emphasized the need to capitalize on the prospects of the free trade agreement to promote intra-trade among African countries and enhance production.

WAW, a week-long event fostering collaboration among female agribusiness professionals, centers around the theme “Sustaining African Agribusiness – Leveraging on Digitalization, AfCFTA, and Climate Resilience for Food Security.”

Rev. Manu highlighted that AfCFTA goes beyond borders, encouraging shared knowledge and creating a regional ecosystem for mutual benefit. He urged women in agribusiness to embrace technology, emphasizing that the future of agribusiness lies not only in the soil but in ideas, collaborations, and innovations.

Rev. Manu seized the opportunity to advise farmers to explore the production of local baby food, citing a projected value exceeding €1.1 billion by 2026. He underscored the significant investment opportunity in Africa’s infant food value chain, where imports currently outpace exports by tenfold.

Albert Appiah Amoakoh, Principal of Kwadaso Agric College, shared insights on securing food demand in Africa, projected to grow by 60% in 2030.