Small Scale Domestic Agro-Processing: Implications for Women Empowerment in OTI Region of Ghana

Abstract

This Agro-processing is one of the agricultural value chain activities that can contribute significantly to industrial development in Ghana and reduce large importation of agro-products 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 agro-processing, group membership, parents, friends, or family members’ participation in agro-processing. 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.