Empowering Women in Cocoa and Coffee Industries: Breaking Barriers, Advancing Equity

Women form the cornerstone of the cocoa and coffee industries in Ghana and Uganda, respectively, playing critical roles in every stage of production, from planting and harvesting to post-harvest processing. Despite their indispensable contributions, they remain marginalized, facing systemic barriers that limit their access to resources such as land, finance, and leadership roles. On March 7, 2025, Vice Versa Media Ghana, in collaboration with Vice Versa Initiative Uganda, hosted a powerful XSpace dialogue to commemorate International Women’s Day. The discussion, titled “Calling for Accelerated Action Towards Gender Equity for Women in Cocoa and Coffee,” brought together experts, industry leaders, and women farmers to examine the challenges they face and explore actionable solutions for empowering women in these vital agricultural sectors.

Bridging the Financial Gap for Women in Cocoa Farming

In Ghana, where cocoa farming is a key economic driver, women remain on the fringes of financial inclusion. Faustina E Aberor, Deputy Technical Manager at the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) at COCOBOD, stressed that women often rely on informal savings schemes to fund their cocoa operations. While these savings provide some relief, they are insufficient for business expansion. Linking women to formal financial institutions has proven beneficial, but stringent requirements such as land ownership and collateral continue to hinder their access to loans.

Augustina Tetteh, President of the Akyemansa Fine Flavour Cocoa Cooperative, shared insights into the financial literacy challenges many women face. Despite receiving some support from institutions like Pan-African, repayment challenges hinder the expansion of financial opportunities. Augustina’s cooperative is addressing this by teaching women financial record-keeping and business management skills, moving them from subsistence farming to a more structured business model.

Faustina E Aberor, Deputy Technical Manager at Cocoa Health and Extension Division at COCOBOD

The Practicality of Farm Policies: Overcoming Implementation Failures

Policy failure has been a key barrier in addressing gender inequities in the cocoa sector. Augustina pointed out that many policies aimed at supporting women lack clear objectives, and insufficient funding limits their effectiveness. She shared an example of bureaucratic delays that left farmers without the necessary rice seeds during the peak planting season. These delays disproportionately affect women, highlighting the pressing need for policy reforms that directly benefit female farmers.

Augustina Tetteh on the left, President of the Akyemansa Fine Flavour Cocoa Cooperative

Land Acquisition and Ownership: A Barrier to Empowerment

Land ownership remains one of the most significant obstacles to women’s empowerment in the cocoa industry. In rural communities, where cocoa farming is predominantly male-dominated, women are often excluded from land ownership, leaving them powerless in the decision-making process regarding the use of cocoa proceeds. This lack of land rights discourages younger generations of women from entering the sector, putting the future sustainability of cocoa farming at risk.

Augustina remarked, “In Ghana, women cocoa farmers are the backbone of their households. They handle everything from harvesting to fermenting, yet because they do not own land, they have no say in how the proceeds are used.” She urged policymakers to implement laws that allow women to own land, which would give them the agency to reinvest in their farms and contribute to the overall growth of the industry.

Training and Capacity Building: Preparing Women for Leadership Roles

Leadership training remains a critical need for women looking to scale their operations in the cocoa and coffee sectors. Moses Tetteh Annan, Senior Technical Officer and Codapec Coordinator in Ghana’s Western North region, highlighted successful models of training that empower women in cocoa cultivation, business development, and customer engagement. These efforts are crucial in equipping women with the skills needed to expand their influence beyond the farm.

Moses also emphasized the importance of community markets where women can collectively sell their produce. These markets not only provide access to larger markets but also foster collaboration and networking, helping women expand their businesses. Through digital platforms, young women are being introduced to agribusiness, offering them opportunities to grow their businesses beyond traditional farming.

Dr. Alexander Tetteh Nuer, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Economics and Extension at the University of Cape Coast (An Advocate for Women)

Bridging Academia, Women Farmers, and Agribusiness Growth

Dr. Alexander Tetteh Nuer, Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Economics and Extension at the University of Cape Coast, discussed how academia can play a vital role in empowering women in cocoa production. His work, which integrates women farmers as mentors, offers the next generation of women farmers the guidance and inspiration they need to succeed. Through flagship programs like the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub, young women are encouraged to view agriculture as a business, learning the skills necessary to add value and innovate within the sector.

Dr. Nuer also pointed to the growing participation of women in initiatives like the Cosmos Innovation Center Agritech Challenge, where they develop and pitch their own agricultural solutions. This shows that with the right support and mentorship, women can be key players in the future of agribusiness.

Andrew Masinde, Communications Officer at Common Ground Uganda (An Advocate for Women)

Lessons from Uganda: Addressing Gender Inequities in Coffee Farming

Gender inequality is not confined to Ghana’s cocoa sector. Andrew Masinde, Communications Officer at Common Ground Uganda, shared that Uganda’s coffee industry faces similar challenges, with women performing most of the labor-intensive tasks but men controlling the financial decisions. “Women perform the bulk of the work—land clearing, weeding, pruning, and harvesting—but when it’s time to sell, men take over,” Masinde explained.

Cultural norms that position men as financial decision-makers lead to women having little control over the money earned from coffee sales. However, through initiatives launched by organizations like Common Ground Uganda, communities are being educated on the importance of joint financial decision-making. This shift is slowly changing financial dynamics within households, ensuring women have a rightful share of coffee proceeds.

Vice Versa Media Ghana Team in the Eastern Region of Ghana shooting a documentary on Women in Cocoa

The Role of Media in Reshaping the Narrative

The media plays an instrumental role in advocating for gender equity in agriculture. Andrew Masinde emphasized that while media can be powerful in highlighting gender inequalities, it often focuses on negative stories that overlook the contributions of women and youth in agriculture. He called on journalists to shed light on these issues, raising awareness about the challenges women face and holding decision-makers accountable.

Vice Versa Media Ghana has embraced this responsibility with its ongoing Women in Cocoa project, which aims to amplify the voices of women farmers, highlight their struggles, and advocate for policy reforms. Through storytelling, media advocacy, and dialogues, Vice Versa Media Ghana is bridging the gap between women farmers, policymakers, and financial institutions, ensuring their contributions are acknowledged.

Women in Cocoa jubilating in their Cooperative apparel

A Call to Action: Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future

As women continue to face systemic barriers, their resilience is unwavering. Addressing these challenges will not only empower women but also unlock the full potential of the cocoa and coffee industries, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future for all. The discussion concluded with a powerful call for action, urging governments, industry stakeholders, and community leaders to dismantle barriers and create an enabling environment for women in these vital sectors.

The collective voices of women farmers, experts, and industry leaders have set the stage for a future where gender equity is the foundation upon which the cocoa and coffee industries can thrive. It is time for governments, financial institutions, and communities to work hand-in-hand to ensure that the voices of women are heard, their contributions recognized, and their rights to land, finance, and leadership fully realized.