Improved Farmland Access Boosts Rural Women’s Income and Food Security – ISRuDev Study
A new study by the Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev) has revealed that improved access to farmland substantially enhances rural women’s income, food security, and overall household wellbeing in Ghana.
The study, conducted among 150 women farmers in Chogsia, Meteu, and Tendoma—communities within the Wa West District of the Upper West Region—shows that women with secure access to farmland earn higher incomes and achieve better productivity compared to those without recognised land rights.
According to the findings, women who had farmland access reported an average income gain of GH¢160.46. A total of 91.2 percent of respondents described land access as a vital safety net, while 85.3 percent linked it directly to improved livelihoods and financial stability.
Presenting the findings at a Land Tenure Dialogue and Business Forum in Wechiau, Co-consultant Mr. Paul Nayaga stressed that women remain central to Ghana’s food production system but continue to face cultural and structural barriers to land ownership.
“Access to farmland is not just an agricultural issue, it is an economic empowerment issue,” he stated. “When women have control over land, they invest more in their farms, generate higher returns, and contribute meaningfully to household income.”
The research revealed that 69.2 percent of women had their farmlands allocated by their husbands or partners, with only 21 percent possessing legally recognised land titles. While 91.8 percent lacked formal documentation, 83.6 percent indicated that their land rights were acknowledged locally.
Despite these challenges, 93.3 percent of the respondents said they were confident about the permanence of their land tenure, and 78 percent noted that they could transfer or bequeath land to others—a reflection of growing confidence in informal tenure systems.
Most of the participants were smallholder farmers cultivating between one and three acres of land, averaging 2.37 acres. Interestingly, 44.7 percent reported expanding their farmlands since joining ISRuDev’s livelihood programmes.
Nonetheless, the report identified persistent challenges such as small land sizes, insecure tenure arrangements, and limited access to finance and farm inputs, all of which continue to limit productivity and income growth among women farmers.
To address these issues, the study called for intensified advocacy for women’s land rights and the promotion of gender-sensitive land governance systems. It also encouraged traditional authorities and family heads to support equitable land allocation and provide formal recognition for women’s landholdings.
Additionally, ISRuDev recommended expanding value addition and agribusiness training to enhance women’s competitiveness in both local and regional markets.
ISRuDev’s Business Development Officer, Mr. Maxwell Kpetaa, explained that the organisation operates within four thematic areas—Livelihoods and Food Security, Environment and Ecosystems, Gender and Social Inclusion, and Maternal and Child Health—to strengthen community resilience and promote inclusive development.
Wa West District Chief Executive, Mr. Richard Wulo, urged the implementation of deliberate policy measures to improve women’s access to productive land, stressing that empowering female farmers is essential to driving economic growth and rural development.
He commended ISRuDev for its efforts, noting that, “When women have land, they do not only feed their families, they build local economies.”
A representative of the Paramount Chief of Wechiau, Mr. Issahaku Razack Abdulai Yamusah, also appealed to men to release farmlands to women, emphasising that proceeds from women’s farms contribute significantly to household welfare and community prosperity.
