The African Agribusiness Incubators Network (AAIN) has provided start-up capital to several small-scale enterprises within the horticulture value chain in the Upper East Region.

This initiative is part of the Sustainable Development, Human Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment [SHINE] project, which aims to empower women and girls in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness activities.

Operating in 55 African Union Member countries with its headquarters in Ghana, AAIN collaborates with Canadian Feed the Children (CFTC) and TradeAid Integrated (TAI) on this project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The SHINE project aims to empower women and girls and facilitate increased agricultural production yields and income through improved access to agribusiness opportunities.

At the recent Bolgatanga International Crafts and Arts Fair (BICAF), 87 small-scale enterprises incubated under the SHINE Program were officially presented with certificates after completing months of the rigorous training program.

Of the 87 small-scale enterprises incubated, 51 are owned by women, while men own 36.

A project management officer at AAIN, Esi Amuquadoh said as part of the project, the beneficiaries received support of up to 5,000 Ghana Cedis each to invest in their enterprises.

“Some of them received cash through bank transfers while others received farm inputs valued at 5, 000 Ghana Cedis. Through that, they have been able to expand their businesses”, she said.

She indicated that the beneficiaries were also trained in climate-smart agriculture, water management systems, and financial management to help them manage their enterprises better.

The incubation program which started in 2022 has helped the beneficiaries some of whom can now process and package vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and onions into finished products.

One of the beneficiaries, Charity Adongo said she joined the incubation program when she had just completed the College of Education as a newly-trained teacher awaiting her posting, and that helped her acquire a new set of skills in the processing of vegetables into finished products.

“I can process onions into powder and sliced ones and tomato and pepper into powder. I go to the farm gates and buy them when they are in abundance and come back to process. This is helping me to make extra income”, she said.

Patience Nyaaba, another beneficiary of the Sustainable Development, Human Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment [SHINE] Project said with the support from the project, she travels to the bigger markets to purchase fresh vegetables for retail. She has also started a poultry farm at her home with the proceeds from her vegetable trade.

“Though it [the poultry farm] is a small one, I am hopeful that with the training I have received from Trade Aid through the SHINE Project, the poultry production is going to boom”, she said.

Bastian Alisane, the coordinator of the SHINE Project, noted significant milestones achieved and indicated that his outfit will continue to support the beneficiaries of the incubation program.

“We will continue to nurture them in terms of capacity building and networking so they can scale up their businesses”, he said.