SMALL SCALE DOMESTIC AGRO-PROCESSING: IMPLICATIONS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN OTI REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Agro-processing is one of the agricultural value chain activities that can contribute significantly to industrial development in Ghana and reduce large importation of agroproducts with the attendant consequences of high inflation. Whilst factory agri-processing is still at the infant stage, domestic agri-processing which is dominated by women tends to empower them. With the help of a two-stage least square, this study assessed the impacts of small-scale domestic agro-processing on women empowerment in Oti Region of Ghana using cross-sectional data. The model also revealed the predictors of women’s participation in agro-processing as well as women empowerment. The main predictors of women’s participation in small-scale domestic agro-processing are education, training on agroprocessing, group membership, parents, friends, or family members’ participation in agroprocessing. Also, women empowerment is influenced by education, participation in paid employment, marital age, group membership, distance to district capital, and leadership position. Women who are engaged in agro-processing are 18.2% more empowered than their counterparts. Therefore, interventions aiming at improving women empowerment should consider including small-scale domestic agro-processing. To do this effectively, women should be encouraged to get themselves educated, join women groups, and take up leadership positions. Women in rural areas should be prioritized in this regard.