Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Women in mechanisation

Tractors for Africa (TFA) / German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Ghana

Abstract

This report documents a pioneering training program titled Women in Mechanisation, spearheaded by AgroKings (in 2022 & 2023), FarmYield Africa (2024) in partnership with the GIZ AgriBiz Project. The initiative aimed to empower women with hands-on technical skills in tractor operation, maintenance, and the management of agricultural machinery. It addresses the gender gap in agricultural mechanisation by equipping women with competencies traditionally dominated by men.
The training followed Ghana’s Competency-Based Training (CBT) approach under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework. Participants were trained using a curriculum pegged at National Certificate I (Level III), covering five core learning units: introduction to tractors, environmental safety, machinery operations, driving techniques, and equipment maintenance. Both formative and summative assessments were conducted using written, oral, and practical evaluations.
The women were exposed to various tractor models and implements such as disc ploughs, harrows, and planters. Beyond the classroom, they engaged in daily workouts and participated in a field excursion to irrigation sites to observe advanced mechanisation tools, including seed drills and combine harvesters. Each trainee received a certificate of participation upon successful completion. The program highlighted women’s capacity to thrive in mechanisation roles, increasing their employability and potential to serve as change agents in their communities. Observations indicated a strong interest among more women to pursue similar training, prompting recommendations for program scaling and sustained stakeholder engagement.

Keywords: Agricultural mechanisation, empowerment, gender equality, Ghana, GTA, skills development, tractor operation, TVET, vocational training, women in agriculture

Contact Address: Henry Cofie Fordi, Tractors for Africa (TFA) / German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Accra, Ghana, e-mail: henry.fordigiz.de