Most professions have different names to suit the genders but did it ever occur to you that a female farmer is known as a farmerette? Well neither did I. Webster dictionary mentions that the first use of the word was in 1901 to define a woman who is a farmer or farmhand. Other words which popped up were “farmeress” archaic for a female farmer or a farmer’s wife and “farm general” which referred to a man who farmed certain taxes from 1697 to 1789.
From the very beginning of human existence, where farming is the first profession given man by God, Eve, the first woman in the world, worked in the garden and so have all other women been known to help in the farms. Yet, they are hardly celebrated for their efforts.
In the early 90s, the Ghanaian farmerettte works more than her male counterparts as she is among the first to arrive on the farm, pulls weeds, harvests crop and partake in all activities on the farm. In Ghana, the women even cook for all the farmhands and also help in transporting all crops by carrying them on their heads with their babies at their backs while their husbands follow suit with nothing but cutlasses in their hands.
These women get back from the farm to prepare butter, food and even go to the market to sell the produce yet they are not referred to as farmers like their husbands but farm hands or the “farmer’s wife.
Men who have more than one wife or many kids in the household do not even hire farmhands even when they can afford and use their wives and children for free labour.
However, in Ghana today, it is worth noting that, despite it being at a slower pace, women farmers in Ghana are gradually being acknowledged and given due recognition. Many organizations and institutions in the country also seek to empower women in agriculture and give them the necessary resources and support to excel.
The farmer’s day celebration recently acknowledges some women farmers in various districts and regions. In 2021, 37 women were honoured on the 37th National farmer’s day celebration held at Cape Coast and while that might not be enough, it is definitely a step towards the right direction.
We look forward to honouring more farmerettes for the overall National best farmer award in Ghana.
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