Women farmers in Ethiopia are grappling with significant challenges that hinder their success in the agricultural sector, including a lack of resources, policy gaps, and difficulties accessing credit. These issues have prompted organizations like Sustainable Growing Africa’s Food Systems (AGRA) to step in with initiatives aimed at empowering female farmers.
AGRA has launched the Value for Hers (VALUE4HER) initiative, designed to support women in agriculture and help them overcome the obstacles they face. This program aims to encourage women-led agricultural businesses and promote equitable growth, marking a significant first for Ethiopia.
Sara Yirga, President of Women in Coffee Ethiopia, highlighted the program’s goal to assist 2,000 women in the agricultural sector through capacity building and loan facilitation. “Holding ourselves accountable to specific commitments in the economic empowerment of women in agribusiness is where we see true change coming from,” she stated.
The VALUE4HER project is focused on supporting female entrepreneurs by creating market chains, facilitating access to credit, and providing additional resources through AGRA. Nicholas Obare, country program lead of AGRA, noted that the lack of resources remains a critical issue for women in the sector. He emphasized that training sessions will be tailored based on the needs identified by women actively working in agriculture.
In Ethiopia, where women perform 75% of farm labor and contribute up to 38% of high-value crop production, the potential impact of this initiative is substantial. AGRA plans to onboard 200 women into the VALUE4HER platform during an upcoming forum, with aspirations to expand that number to over 9,000 by 2027.
This expansion represents a significant step forward for women-led agribusiness in Ethiopia, promising to address long-standing challenges and foster economic empowerment among female farmers. As the initiative gains momentum, it aims to create a more supportive environment for women in agriculture, ultimately enhancing their contributions to the country’s economy.
