ROWFAD appeals for support

Rural Organization of Women Farmer and Agro Process/Development (ROWFAD), has appealed to the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) to support it with funds to establish an Agro Processing Centre at Bugubelle in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region.

The centre will support women groups in the shea industry for easy oil seeds processing and also encourage more women to join the industry.

Mr. Yanaa Yahaya, ROWFAD Director, made the appeal at a shea clusters forum in Bugubelle in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region.

According to him, ROWFAD had already developed a comprehensive business plan to demonstrate the highly profitable and socially beneficial prospects of the centre and to attract and secure financing for the implementation of the venture.

He said the organization had identified shea kernel and butter processing as a significant way to improving the social and economic fortunes of rural people, especially women in the area, hence, its decision to seek for funds from EDAIF towards the establishment of the centre.

Mr. Yanaa said ROWFAD had put in place measures to build the capacity of 51 shea women groups in 18 communities to enable them produce quality shea kernels and butter to make some income for themselves.

Additionally, ROWFAD would improve performance of producer organizations in effective management, business development and negotiation skills as well as create an enabling environment for multi-stakeholder advocacy platforms that would lead to improved pro-poor policies and regulations.