MICRO- LOAN REPORTS – GHANA PROJECTS
Supporting Our Rural Women: this 2015 Darsfoundation would be focusing on women
enterprises across rural Ghana. Women make up 56% of Ghana’s population, with over 70% of
them been marginalized economically. Our focus this year shall be on women empowerment and
supporting the contribution they make to the development of our economic and country.
Sixty percent ‘60%’ of them can be found as workforce in agricultural sector. They are involved
in agro-processing, trading of agricultural produces in our domestic markets, planting and
harvesting of food crops and also on field preparation. Without women in agriculture in Africa
and in particular Ghana our economy would not have develop to the levels it is now.
Darsfoundation would be supporting our rural women for expansion and commercialization of
their farming activities. We would support each of them in food and beverage processing ‘such
as cassava processing, palm and coconut oil processing, fruits and vegetables processing and also
conveying harvest to markets for sales. Our women on average are highly reliable in the duties
they are involved in compared to the men.
It is very important we give the necessary support to women to develop their economic bases,
improve their standard of living and contribute to the economic develop of our continent.
According to Darsfoundation field assessment reports of 2013, we have seen that many of our
rural women are bread-winners at homes. They are faced with many domestic challenges,
ranging from providing education to their children, providing care for the sick, paying utility
bills like water and light, providing basic necessity of life such as food, clothing and shelters for
their families and more. Now in the homes of divorcees, widows or the hit and run relationship
women are forced to carry these burdens on their shoulders on daily basis.
The world would be a better place, if we include the women in decision-making and through
economic empowerment. In Africa, our women have come from one catastrophe to other
disasters and the causes are the men.
Darsfoundation supported these women groups Kuaye Women Farmers Association (KWFA) and
 Onuado woman farmers association (OWFA).
1) Kuaye Women Farmers Association made up of twenty five (25) women- KWFA secured
Ghc 2000 from Darsfoundation to venture into agro-processing; however, the fund was
insufficient to establish the agro-processing unit, so the loan/ credit was diverted to sweet
pepper production. An amount of Ghc 29,500 at the end of March 2015. KWFA has
agreed to share Ghc29,500 so that each member can go expand her farming project by
buying the inputs the required to operate effectively.
That is a woman makes an income of Ghc 1180 for the first 6 months of investment.
Some of them are still intending to cultivate both fruits and vegetables, this major season.
According to KWFA they have big responsibilities at home but they hope to follow up their
dreams of venturing into agro-processing which would open the community to active
commercial activities, create more jobs for more rural girls and improve their standard of
living.
They have since repaid the loan without interest to Darsfoundation. This group has resume
compost making and purchasing of inputs for major season farming. We have re-applied the
loans to another women group at Coaltar. Loan would be repaid in September 2015.
2) Onuado Women Farmers Association (OWFA) is made up of seventeen (17) womenOWFA Ghc 2,000 loan secured from Darsfoundation to add value to cassava and palm
fruits. The loan was absolutely insufficient after purchase of some inputs. They wanted
gari and oil palm processing for local markets. They have since September 2014
purchased a cassava grinding/ crushing machine, 6 frying pans, 5 large baskets, 50 sacks,
1 pinched tent to fry gari, 4 liters of engine oil and 25 liters of petrol. To this they have
mobilized another Ghc 500 credit to start selling raw cassava to get more capital to add to
their business. An acre of cassava farms generates an income of Ghc 900. So far they
have sold 10 acres of cassava farms. That is they made Ghc 900 times 10 acres equal to
Ghc 9000. We are awaiting the final decision as to the disbursement of profits to these
women. Each woman made Ghc 529 if the funds would be shared among the group.
Darsfoundation has in her custody the items of this group for safe keeping. The women are
briefing us that the funds would be used to set up a processing center in the community or
disbursed to individuals to expand their farms or petty trading. The women still has about 24
acres of cassava farms to process, which would create jobs for school leavers, reduce ruralurban migration, reducing the domestic challenges they face at home and others.
We have re-applied the loans the loan to the same group and to repay the loans in September
2015.
In many communities women play a critical role in running the house, collecting water and
buying kerosene, placing them in a vital position to drive change in towns and villages.
They are also likely to be the worst affected from extreme weather conditions, having to care for
vulnerable children and older members of the family.
Darsfoundation is therefore appealing to and calling on all those kind-hearted individuals to
come to the aid of our rural women we support in rural Ghana. Join us in the mission to make
and keep our women economically empowered and protected.
Darsfoundation believes that the key for development and life-quality improvement is to create
local opportunities that are economically sustainable rather than simply provide aids free of
charge to rural population in our communities.