Diversification and organic farming - the Farmers Resilient Package shows new ways forward
For a long time, cashew farmer Nyin Akua struggled with a very low wage that made it difficult for her to earn a sufficient income for herself and her children. Until a project implemented by So-B-Green Limited provided her and others within her community with a training on sustainable farming. This opened up a new job opportunity she didn’t know that existed.
Nyin Akua Mina is a mother of four children and lives in Kabire – a small and rural community near Duadaso in Ghana. She also is a cashew farmer but was struggling to make enough money to take care of herself and her children. A situation shared by many others in her community.
‘I had no idea on the existence of this job until the trainer from So-B-Green came into our community and suggested to add beekeeping to my cashew farming.’
Nyin Akuya Mina
One day, as part of the Farmers Resilient Package project, an agricultural extension officer and agronomist from So-B-Green paid a visit to her community offering trainings to cashew farmers. She took part and was introduced to a new job opportunity that she could pursue in addition to her cashew farming. ‘I had no idea on the existence of this job until the trainer from So-B-Green came into our community and suggested to add beekeeping to my cashew farming,’ Nyin Akua Mina says.
Training and equipment for a new job opportunity
The trainer mapped the cashew field and showed her the appropriate areas to station beehives. Nyin was curious and built two beehives with her trainer’s support. However, she remained doubtful. ‘I was scared of going close to the beehives. Beekeeping is usually something done by men and looked dangerous to me,’ she says.
Luckily, the trainer was able to encourage her by showing her safe honey harvesting techniques. Finally, the personal protective equipment provided by So-B-Green convinced her to give it a try and she entered the new job opportunity.
A role model for female cashew farmers to enter beekeeping
Honey as an additional source of income has led to an increase in Nyin Akua Mina’s household income. Right after her second harvest, she was able to support her oldest daughter with paying for the fees of her nursing training: ‘I would say, this new job has really helped me and my family in terms of our wellbeing,’ she said. Due to this success, she has been able to convince six more women to join the beekeeping business.
‘This new job has really helped me and my family in terms of our wellbeing.’
Nyin Akua Mina
With the Farmers Resilient Package project, Nyin Akua Mina – as a female role model – together with So-B-Green and supported by Invest for Jobs aimed to create new job opportunities for at least 100 cashew farmers around Duadaso in the Ahafo region.