Newage Agric Solutions Ltd, one of Ghana’s leading agriculture firms in Ghana deserves the accolade “CIMG Agric Marketing Company of The Year 2022” conferred on it by the esteemed Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2023. I’m sure you’re asking, “Why is he drawing this conclusion? Well, walk with me through this article and let’s familiarise ourselves with the incredible contributions of this young company to Ghana’s agriculture sector.

Five years ago, a group of individuals set out to develop a ‘vehicle’ that had a simple yet powerful vision: to revolutionise agriculture in Ghana, empower farmers, and infuse innovation into the practice of farming in Ghana – that was the birth of Newage Agric Solutions Limited. But I’m sure however determined they were, they never envisaged reaching the heights they have in this ‘short’ period of existence – five (5) years.

The company’s area of operations involves the development of farmer out-grower schemes to boost their productions in maize, rice, and soya; training of farmers; supply of agro-inputs; processing of agriculture produces; and operating one of Ghana’s largest poultry farms; Rosons Farms.

Newage Agric Solutions Limited, as part of efforts to achieve its vision, runs “Chi-Gaba” - a social enterprise initiative aimed at boosting local production of some selected grains and cereals in Ghana, as well as improving the living standards of rural farmers. So far, over 45,000 smallholder farmers have been supported through this initiative. Each year, Chi-Gaba supplies agricultural inputs running into millions of Ghana cedi to farmers who do not pay anything upfront for the inputs but pay back with produce after harvesting.

The company also runs the Seed Technology Improvement and Commercialisation (STIC) Project, which is designed to consciously develop Ghana’s seed industry by supporting researchers to develop new planting materials and also improve and expand existing planting materials of productive and commercial value. Through this project, improved varieties of maize, rice and soya have been developed and supplied to some Ghanaian farmers.

Rice Factory

In a bid to meet the market needs of Ghanaian rice farmers and the growing demand of Ghanaians for locally produced rice, Newage Agric established a modern rice processing factory at Okwenya in the Eastern Region. The factory commenced with a 2-metric tonne (MT) per hour rice mill processing line, which has a complete unit of rice processing including a destoner, polisher, colour sorter and a bagging unit. The company has now improved the factory by installing a 3-metric tonne (MT) per hour rice machine in addition to the initial milling machine the company had, plus a new dryer and storage space.
The company is building a whole new agriculture village around the factory which will have a mill, a slaughterhouse to process the company’s new poultry product; ‘Evivi Happy Chicken’, and other ancillary facilities to aid the operationalisation of the village the company is building there.

Evivi Rice

Newage Agric Solutions Ltd has added to its vision of changing the face of agriculture in Ghana by developing its own Ghana rice brand, Evivi Rice. This is a premium long-grain rice proudly grown in Ghana by smallholder Ghanaian farmers. Evivi Rice is the end product of the Chi Gaba rice project, whereby paddy rice produced by farmers is processed at the company’s factory into milled rice for consumers. The rice is now being consumed in most parts of the country.

Nserewa

One of the standout achievements of Newage Agric Solutions Ltd has been the introduction of innovative agricultural financing. The crowd-farming programme, Nserewa, is transforming the way farming is funded and executed in Ghana, making it easier for farmers to access the resources they need to succeed. This program, alongside other forward-thinking initiatives, has set the company apart as a leader in agricultural innovation.

Nserewa is an agro-lifestyle project that affords largely corporate people to contribute to agriculture especially in food production through sponsoring farmers with the aim of making decent returns on their sponsorship. Sponsorships are mainly towards the procurement of farm inputs for farmers and providing a ready market.

Newage Academy

Newage Academy is the latest innovation of the company where the centre will be focused on fostering practical innovation and entrepreneurship for the development, testing and scaling of business ideas for sustainable growth and development.

A Network of Partnerships

No journey is ever completed alone, and Newage Agric Solutions owes much of its success to its strategic partnerships. Collaborations with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the Mastercard Foundation, Lancaster University, Temple Invest, Bayer, Syngenta, Lake Agriculture, and many others have been instrumental in realising the company’s vision. These alliances have created a powerful network of support, innovation, and opportunity, helping the company extend its reach and deepen its impact.

“We’ve built amazing partnerships with MOFA, the Mastercard Foundation, Lancaster University, Temple Invest, Bayer, Syngenta, Lake Agriculture, and many more. These collaborations have been the backbone of our progress and a testament to the power of working together toward a shared vision. It hasn’t always been easy,” wrote the Managing Partner, Roland Quaye on his LinkedIn page.

Looking Forward with Hope and Optimism

As Newage Agric Solutions celebrates this significant milestone, the company reflects on the progress made and looks ahead to even greater opportunities in the years to come. With new projects, expanded partnerships, and continued innovation, the company is poised for even greater success.

According to the Management of the company, going into the future, Newage Agric Solutions Ltd is committed to scaling its efforts, impacting more lives, and driving even more positive change in the agricultural sector.

"The road was sometimes bumpy, the rains didn’t always come when expected, and the challenges often felt daunting. But every step was worth it. Why? Because of the countless smiles of farmers who now see brighter futures, the hands we’ve held through tough times, and the belief that what we’re doing matters.

“The next five years will be even bigger, brighter, and more impactful, as we continue to innovate, grow, and serve our farmers, our partners, and our communities," Roland Quaye added.

As Newage Agric Solutions celebrates this momentous milestone, the company looks back with pride, and forward with anticipation.

“Over these five years, over 45,000 youth farmers across Ghana have been empowered through the company’s initiatives, with more than 40% of those farmers being women – according to company data. Through access to quality inputs, expert training, and constant support, Newage has created opportunities for farmers to thrive and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

“Here’s to the next five years of transforming agriculture, one farm at a time,” added the Managing Partner, Roland Quaye.