Women in smallholder agriculture

Women are central actors in smallholder agriculture. In addition to working in the fields, they are responsible for important steps in the processing of crops. After harvesting legumes such as lentils, beans or peanuts, they are processed own consumption and if there is some surplus, also for sale. Many women engage both in farming and in trading. By selling the products at local or regional markets, earn their own money and they can also contribute to the household's cash income. There are tendencies towards a feminization of agriculture, because young males leaves the agricultural sector. However, women are quite mobile in Ghana. Studies show that in Ghana and other West African countries, migration is no longer a male domain: For example, in 2019, almost 50% of migrants in Ghana were female. Just like men, especially younger, unmarried women leave their home areas to seek education, employment and jobs (Setrana & Kleist 2022).

Setrana M. & Kleist N. (2022): Gendered Dynamics in West African Migration. In: Teye J. (2022) Migration in West Africa. Pages 57-76. Springer.