In the move to empower and strengthen the involvement of women in the agricultural sector, TIAST Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and Stanbic Bank has indicated that empowerment of women in agriculture is one of their priorities in strengthening the cassava value chain.
This was made known at the second Agriculture Women’s Day symposium organized by TIAST Ghana in partnership with GEPA and Stanbic Bank under the theme “Empowering women in agriculture through financial and technical support for agro-processing” on 17th March 2022, at TIAST Club House 1, Canwin Hotel.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare bemoaned the inadequate support given to women in agriculture. She however urged the women present to take the bold step and venture into agro-processing for accelerated growth and development.
On the point of value addition, she indicated that value addition is very necessary for the development of the agricultural sector. According to her, non-traditional commodities command higher price rates when exported than the traditional ones.
Dr. Asabea lauded the remarkable progress TIAST Group has made so far in championing agricultural industrialization and empowering women to do more in the sector. “We are excited TIAST is here to add value to our crops, such as cassava,” she said.
She added, “Cassava starch is in high demand globally for use in pharmaceutical and textile industries.” This, she mentioned, in relation to the numerous advantages and opportunities, cassava starch production brings to the agricultural sector.
In furtherance to her speech, she introduced the women present to the ‘Impact Hub’, an initiative where women in agriculture are trained and given practical skills on how to add value to their products and export them on the international market at standard market prices. Also, the International Business Manager at TIAST West Africa Company Limited, Ms. Irene Sackey outlined the key policies TIAST Ghana has put in place to empower women to champion agricultural industrialization in Ghana and West Africa at large.
She said, “TIAST provides technical and financial support for framers, investors, and entrepreneurs who have an interest in processing their crops into more valuable products.” In her submission, she stated that any client who partners with TIAST Ghana does not find difficulty in getting access to technical support. Ms. Sackey disclosed that TIAST Group has a factory based in China where the machinery necessary for production to occur are designed, manufactured, and imported for installation in the factory.
Speaking on the financial support, she indicated that TIAST Ghana guarantees financial leasing of 70-80 percent of the total factory cost. Based on this support, she admonished all women to take advantage of the financial leasing and process their crop produce.
Ms. Sackey announced a new initiative TIAST has brought on board to empower women who partner with TIAST Ghana, known as the “Woman-Up Operational Premium”. According to her, three persons are qualified to benefit from the package with the first incentive strictly for women.
She said, “The first incentive provides cash rewards after the factory is set up to subsidize operational costs needed for the factory to women who want to own cassava starch processing factories.”
“For this incentive, we are looking at giving about 10 percent, which is worth about USD 500,000 to run the factory after the factory starts producing,” she further explained.
Moving further to the second and third beneficiaries, she indicated that those who qualify will receive a cash amount representing 5 percent of the contract value after the factory set up. According to her, the second and third beneficiaries will be given USD 250,000 to help with operations at the factory as well.
The Head of Agribusiness at Stanbic Bank, Madam Lilian Bazzale spoke about the preparedness of Stanbic Bank to provide financial support for women who show interest in setting up a cassava starch processing factory. “Currently, we have approved a big deal worth millions of dollars to import processing equipment for cassava, and we are extremely delighted about it,” she said.
Some of the dignitaries at the conference; the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, the Chief Executive Officer of TIAST Ghana, Mr. Freca Xiao, the Deputy Director of Women in Agriculture Development Directorate, Madam Theresa Wayo, the Head of Agribusiness at Stanbic Bank, Madam Lilian Bazzale, Mamaga Toleyi Abladefio-Queen Mother of Afadjato Traditional Area and President of Volta Regional Queens, Marina Lamptey-Head of Diaspora Desk (GIPC), Madam Kousse-Consular Officer representing Ambassador for Burkina Faso, Naa Adole- Queen Mother of Sukura Sempe New Town, Naa Korkor Aadzieoyi-Queen Mother for Adabraka and Treasurer for Greater Acrra Queens and many other dignitaries.
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