Since the inception of the Snail Farming Empowerment Project by Heritage Charity Foundation (HCF), remarkable progress has been made in training and empowering rural women in the Nkoranza North District. The project’s goal was to train 100 women in snail farming, providing them not only with skills but also with income generation opportunities through sustainable agricultural practices.

Achievements:

1. Training and Capacity Building:
   • We successfully trained 100 rural women in comprehensive theoretical and practical aspects of snail farming, management, and entrepreneurship.
2. Snail Farm Establishment:
   • Although we initially planned to establish 5 farms, the enthusiastic response from the beneficiaries led us to expand and establish 10 pens. This expansion was made possible through donations from individuals who showed interest in the project, helping us address potential operational challenges and resource strain.
3. Employment and Income Generation:
   • The program created job opportunities for 150 women, with individual participants now generating an average monthly income of GHS 7,500 (€426) through their farming activities.
4. Increase in Household Income:
   • Beneficiary households have reported a substantial increase in their household income, averaging 35%, which has dramatically improved their living standards and quality of life.
5. Food Security Improvement:
   • Before the project, many women struggled to provide three meals a day for their families. Now, 90% reported enhanced food security, with improved access to nutritious snail meat supplementing their diets, allowing them to better support their children’s education.
6. Market Linkages Established:
   • We have successfully developed markets by selling to individual aggregators and supermarkets. Despite this progress, a significant market gap for snail products still exists in Ghana, which we plan to explore further.

Impact Stories:

• Madam Adwoa: Through her newly acquired skills, her monthly income increased from GHS 200 to GHS 800 (USD 12-50), enabling her to support her children’s education effectively.
• Ms. Akua: Inspired by Madam Adwoa’s success, Ms. Akua has employed two additional women, thereby fostering job creation within her community.

Challenges Faced:

1. Climate Change: We encountered weather-related challenges that affected productivity, underlining the need to incorporate climate-resilient practices into our training program.
2. Limited Access to Financing: Many women still face barriers in accessing additional funding and resources.
3. Disease Management: Outbreaks among snail populations posed challenges that need addressing.

Lessons Learned:

1. Climate-Resilient Practices: There’s a need for the integration of climate-resilient farming methods into our training curriculum to counteract environmental impacts.
2. Market Access and Financial Support: Continued strengthening our market linkages and ensuring access to financial resources are critical for sustained growth.
3. Ongoing Support and Monitoring: Regular technical support and monitoring are essential for the continuous success of the project participants.

Sustainability Plan:

1. We are in the process of establishing a revolving fund to aid beneficiaries in expanding their businesses.
2. Formation of a snail farming cooperative is underway, which will enhance market bargaining power and increase profitability.
3. Collaboration with local institutions for continued technical support is being prioritized to ensure ongoing knowledge transfer and capacity building.

Conclusion: The Snail Farming Empowerment Project has achieved significant milestones, positively impacting the lives of women in the Nkoranza North District and enhancing their economic resilience. HCF expresses commitment to scaling up the project, ensuring long-term sustainability and sustained economic empowerment for rural women.

Recommendations Moving Forward:

1. Replication: We recommend replicating this successful model in other rural districts to maximize impact.
2. Market Exploration: Investigating alternative markets and value chains will diversify income sources for women.
3. Partnership Strengthening: Strengthening relationships with local institutions and stakeholders will bolster project effectiveness.

Acknowledgments: HCF extends sincere gratitude to all our funding partners, the dedicated women beneficiaries, and supportive community leaders. Your collaboration and encouragement have been pivotal in the success of this project.

Next Steps:

• Continued engagement with beneficiaries to offer support and address challenges.
• Further development of our sustainability strategies to ensure lasting impact.
• Planning for an expansion phase based on lessons learned and successful outcomes.