Enhancing the performance of women in staple crop production with support of non-governmental organisations in Wa East District, Ghana

The study examined staple crops production and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) support for women farmers to enhance food crop production in the Wa East district, Ghana. Despite several government and NGOs interventions targeting women food crop production, crop yields targets remain unmet, necessitating the investigation of NGOs interventions to address these concerns. Economic empowerment theory guided the study. Cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. It was considered appropriate for the collection of data at a single point, and it aligned well with the objectives of the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied for the study. In the first stage of sampling, probability sampling technique was used to select the communities for the study. These communities were selected on the basis that NGOs have implemented some projects targeted at women farmers. The data analysis involved multinominal logistic regression, pattern analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and chi-square tests. The results showed that NGOs have significantly contributed to provision of agricultural inputs, and extension services, NGO intervention and estimated crop yields were positively correlated, underlining the significance of support models tailored to farmers’ needs. Identified challenges that hindered women’s crop productivity included financial constraints, limited access to productive lands and labour. A main conclusion of the study is that women crop yields were significantly improved by NGOs contributions. The study recommended increased support for staple crops such as maize and soya, prioritizing agricultural mechanization and financial inclusion for enhanced productivity and women empowerment.