The Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture Technology Transfer Project introduces new technology in Northern Ghana. Recently, the project gave 100 women farmers a new tool to ease maize and soy planting. Comfort and Adisa, two recipients of the multi-crop planter, share their stories on how the technology improves their lives.
Comfort Angbing – Turning Tools into Business
Comfort Angbing, 39-year-old mother-of-five, uses the planter to create new business. She rents the machine to other women farmers, generating an extra GHS 165 (about $44) during the planting season.
Comfort, the lead farmer of the Balanang Women’s group, saw the planter in action during a sowing demonstration the previous season. There, she imagined creating a rental business using the machine. After a successful first trial, she plans to grow her endeavor.
“I want to buy another five planters with the profit from the rental fees and my crop harvest. I plan to rent them to more women in neighboring communities. I encourage other women, especially my group members, to save money and buy more planters. They are very helpful,” she said.
Comfort saved GHS 280 (about $74), what she previously paid 10 laborers to sow seven acres of maize and soy. With the extra money, she bought educational materials, a uniform and food for her 18-year-old son in high school.
Adisa Issaka – Big Savings Means More to Invest
Adisa Issaka shares a similar story. She saved a massive GHS 1,300 (about $345) during the sowing season. Previously, sowing her 12 acres of maize and 3 acres of soy was expensive.
“Last year I spent a total of GHS 100 (about $26) on every acre of land I sowed…I was lucky to even get the help at all. In addition, it usually took two weeks to finish planting the 15 acres. Now, it’s faster and cheaper,” she explained.
Now, Adisa has enough money to pay for her children’s schoolbooks and fees. In addition, she plans to increase investment in her shea nut processing business.
“I will also save part of this year’s farming proceeds to buy agro-inputs for next season and use the rest to start a small maize trade to support my husband,” she said.
After sharing her story with the Katimi-Inye Women’s Association, 18 of the 38 members expressed interest in buying the planter in the coming season.
Farmers like Comfort and Adisa demonstrate the ingenuity that changes the face of farming in sub-Saharan Africa. Their example inspires others to unlock agriculture’s potential to reduce hunger and poverty.
