I Resigned As A Psychologist To Be A Farmer, I Wish I Resigned Earlier- Female Farmer Reveals

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Even as a lot of Ghanaians are of the perception that farming is for the poor and the illiterate, a female farmer shares her experience to refute the notion that farming is for the poor and the illiterate.

Mrs Mabel-Ann Akoto Okata Kwudzo who holds a master’s degree snubbed working as a psychologist and ventured into farming and she has not regretted a bit.

In a phone interview on Ghana Akuafo, a farmer program on Radio 1 Ghana, 100.7fm, Mrs Kwudzo who initially had no knowledge about farming but was determined to venture, revealed to the host of the show, Nana Kwabena Addo that her husband even did not buy into the idea of her quitting a white coloured job for farming unless she was preparing to be poor. Because his parents who were farmers were only working for hand to mouth.

“I am a big farmer who farms at Krachie and Nkwanta districts in the Oti region. I resigned as a psychologist in 2005 to become a farmer. My husband discouraged me but i was determined because i felt farming would be lucrative unlike the perception out there and now i don’t regret ever, going into farming. I wish i had resigned earlier” – C.E.O. of Okata farms said.

She revealed further that she had the future of her children at so she realised her first child would going to the University in 2007 but her salary was small. Even as her husband never agreed with her, she took a bold decision to quit the Psychology as a profession and went into farming because she believed it was the right job that could her her cater for her children’s needs.

Her activities have impacted over 3,000 smallholder farmers in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region. She now processes her goods before sale.

She totally disagrees with the popular notion that a rich person will eventually become poor for going into farming, however, she advised that rich people who send their monies to villages to farm but do not visit the farms, which she described as absentee farming will definitely be at a loss. According to the elite female farmer, farming is never for the poor alone neither it is an avenue to become poor and therefore advised the general public to consider farming as very lucrative.

Moreover, she believes the statement made by the Assin Central law maker, Hon. Ken Agyapong will rather discourage the educated and rich people to go into farming which she sees as unfortunate.

She reiterated and deviated from Hon. Ken Agyapong that farming is never for the poor and illiterate, rather an improved business.

She now owns 100 acres of cocoa, 10 acres of vegetables, 50 acres of rice, 100 acres of maize, 50 acres of oil palm. She recalled how her husband did her physiotherapy on her farm instead of going to the hospital.

She has her own processing factory, 5 tractors, truck, threshers, etc. “I am better now than being a psychologist”

She started her education at Akosombo International school and continued to St Mary’s school in Accra. She later furthered to the university of Ghana to read child psychology. Mrs Mabel Akoto Kwudzo went further to studied Agronomy as masters and currently she is the C.E.O of Okata Farms and Processing. She was the first runner-up of 2017 National Farmers’ Day award ceremony held on December 1 2017. She was the best food processing company in the 2015 Farmers’ Awards Event. She was the 2013 district best rice farmer and 2014 regional best farmer.

By: Nana Gyasi | Radio 1 | Ghana