Ghana Gives 230 Women Farmers Digital Skills to Grow

A news assignment covering frustrated agriculture graduates changed Francisca Asiedu's life forever. She walked away from that protest with a radical idea: what if young people stopped waiting for farming jobs and created them instead?

Francisca left journalism to start a small farm on four acres of family land in Sunyani. Today, Eco Harvest Farm & Hub spans 25 acres, producing crops and livestock with plans to export internationally.

But she knew growing a modern farm business required more than good soil. That's why she joined over 230 women farmers, processors, traders and retailers at a training program hosted by Telecel Ghana Foundation and Wan-Hive Ghana.

The two-day workshop taught practical skills women could use immediately. Sessions covered setting up business pages, using Instagram and Pinterest to find buyers, and managing money through mobile transactions.

Each participant received a SIM card loaded with data, voice and SMS credits to apply their new knowledge right away. Francisca plans to completely redesign her online marketing to reach customers beyond Ghana's borders.

"I didn't know how well platforms like Instagram and Pinterest could help with visibility," said Francisca, known online as "Sexy Farmer." "Now I understand how to position the farm online and attract customers beyond Ghana."

Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Telecel Foundation, explained why the Bono Region matters. "Women form a large part of that value chain, so by equipping them with digital and financial tools, we're helping them access wider markets and strengthen their livelihoods."

The Ripple Effect

Francisca's impact extends far beyond her own fields. She runs Farm Clubs in schools across Dormaa West, introducing students to agriculture through container planting and digital agribusiness tools.

Her mission challenges the outdated view that farming is punishment or work for the uneducated. She wants young people to see precision farming, drone technology and global markets as their future.

"If they start early, they get to see agriculture differently," Francisca explained. "Not as punishment or for older people, but as a field with lots of opportunities."

The 230 women trained alongside Francisca are now equipped to build stronger businesses, feed their communities and inspire the next generation of farmers.