The Changing Role and Challenges of Women in Agriculture in the Era of Agricultural Transformation in Northern Ghana

Ghana is one of the few countries in Africa that is experiencing rapid agricultural transformation, in farm size expansion and commercialization, though it is unclear yet whether this transformation is proceeding in an inclusive manner. Using both quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2020 from Northern Ghana, which is predominantly made up of patrilineal communities, this study analyses how social norms interplay with agricultural transformation to influence women's role in contemporary agriculture. Our findings suggest that while women are actively engaging in the transformation, their progress is slowed by sociocultural norms and economic-technical challenges. Patriarchal norms, especially in areas like Karaga, restrict women's independent land access, as land rights remain controlled by traditional leaders. Women also face labor conflicts, which compel them to prioritize work on their spouses' farms over their own, which in turn hampers their productivity. Furthermore, inadequate storage facilities, which all farmers face in the study areas, impact women the most, compelling them to sell their produce immediately after harvest, which reduces their incomes. To improve women's roles in the new commercial agricultural landscape, both informal local and formal national institutions need to evolve in tandem with the new realities.