Empowering Women in Agriculture: Veronica Abrokwah’s Success Story in Ghana
In Ghana, Veronica Abrokwah is juggling life as a nurse and a smallholder tomato farmer and processor with support from TechnoServe.
Veronica Abrokwah is a 30-year-old nurse in Akumadan, Ghana. She’s not just dedicated to saving lives, she’s also a thriving tomato farmer and processor. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of economic independence.
Veronica’s journey into farming began two years ago when she was posted to the Akumadan-Afrancho AME Zion Hospital as a nurse. Shortly after her arrival, she recognized the potential of the tomato value chain as a means to build additional financial security and improve her livelihood.
In 2023, she rented an acre farm in the community and cultivated tomatoes. Her harvest yielded eight boxes of tomatoes (200-240 kg), but she encountered significant post-harvest losses, leaving her only a 10% profit. This setback nearly discouraged her from continuing her farming venture.
Programs and Support for Women Farmers in Ghana
However, in September 2024, her passion for farming was rekindled when she joined the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) program, implemented by TechnoServe in partnership with Agric Impact Ltd. and Mastercard Foundation.
The HAPPY program aims to drive shared prosperity in Ghana by creating, sustaining, and improving dignified jobs and increasing agricultural productivity across the poultry, rice, soy, and tomato value chains. The project bridges the productivity gaps in these four value chains by building resilient youth and women-led food systems.
Veronica heard about the program and decided to attend a training session for young tomato farmers in Akumadan. The training covered post-harvest loss management, good agronomic practices, and tomato processing techniques. A key takeaway from the training was the importance of forming farmer groups to improve bargaining power and market access.
How Women in Agriculture Gain Confidence and Increase Community Impact
Inspired by the training, Veronica and 19 other women between 18 and 35 formed Agat Royal Farmers. This all-woman group benefited from cross-learning sessions and market linkages through the HAPPY program, significantly improving their farming practices and financial outcomes.
Joining Agat Royal group has benefited me. In addition to saving money through group negotiations, the members also help me when I have an emergency at work. So I think young women should join groups if they want to go into tomato farming.” —Veronica Abrokwah
As a group member, Veronica still cultivates a one acre farm, but now earns significantly higher profits. The group’s collective bargaining power allows them to reduce costs on land rentals, labor, and supplies. Previously, she paid 650 cedis ($42) annually for land rental; now, through group negotiations, she pays 600 cedis ($39) for the same land size. Veronica plans to use the cost savings to expand the farm by renting two additional acres during the next planting season.
With her improved agricultural knowledge and post-harvest management skills, Veronica’s harvest has doubled, increasing from 8-10 boxes to 15-20 boxes of quality tomatoes per season. This, coupled with cost savings and reduced losses, has led to a 45% increase in her income.
Women in Agriculture: Scaling Success
Veronica has successfully managed her nursing career and farming venture by opting for night shifts at the hospital, allowing her to focus on farming during the day. She supports her 12-year-old sister, who is in junior high. Her fellow Agat Royal Farmers also support her farm operations whenever she has to spend more time at the hospital.
With strong market linkages created by the HAPPY program and her expertise in tomato processing, Veronica has set her sights on expanding her farm to five acres in 2025. She plans to employ two young women to assist with commercial tomato production and processing, further strengthening economic opportunities for young women in Akumadan.
Veronica is optimistic that her journey will inspire other young women in agriculture to explore multiple career paths. As she advances in her healthcare and agribusiness careers, she hopes to empower and mentor other young women, proving that financial independence and career diversification are within reach.
