Abdulai Fatima, a 30-year-old mother of two from Dalun in the Kumbungu District of Northern Ghana, has long relied on rice farming for her livelihood. However, before joining the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Project, farming was a constant struggle.
With limited access to quality inputs like seeds and fertilizers and no formal training in best agricultural practices, her yields remained low—only 0.7 to 0.8 metric tons per season.
Like many farmers facing similar challenges, Fatima often considered leaving her community for urban areas like Accra and Kumasi to work as a head porter (kayaye) just to survive.
Financially dependent on her parents, she felt stuck with few options for growth.
Fatima’s life took a positive turn when she joined the HAPPY Program. Through the initiative, she gained access to high-quality seeds and fertilizers and received hands-on training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).
Equipped with this knowledge and support, she applied new techniques to her one-acre farm under the Botanga Irrigation Scheme.
The impact was immediate and significant. Her yield more than doubled, increasing to 1.8 metric tons per season.
With this success, Fatima no longer needed to leave her community for menial jobs. Farming became a reliable and sustainable source of income, allowing her to support her parents instead of depending on them.
Today, Fatima is financially independent and optimistic about the future. With increased productivity and steady income, she is providing a better life for her children and actively contributing to her community’s economic growth.
Her journey from struggling farmer to successful agripreneur highlights the transformative power of opportunity, training, and perseverance. Fatima’s story is a testament to the HAPPY Project’s role in empowering women in agriculture and creating pathways to financial stability and self-reliance.
