The MasterCard Foundation program has enabled the organization to reach more farmers and off-takers, improving their farming techniques and yields.

Robert Asugre, the country manager of IDH Ghana, said, “We believe that there is congruent interest to create more impact at scale and that is why we partnered with MasterCard Foundation to develop the Green for Growth program.

"We can reach out to so many farmers and off-takers and their brands to be able to do this project and support industrial processes and also for security.”

The project, which started in September 2021 and is expected to end in March 2025, will support 12 SMEs in accessing premium markets for maize, millet, fonio, and sorghum.

It aims to create 103,000 work opportunities, with a focus on women and youth empowerment, and partners with three premium off-takers, including manufacturing giant Nestle.

One of the beneficiaries, Razak Bongo, shared his experience with the program, benefiting from improved yields and financial stability.

“Life was difficult for me before IDH came in to support because I was unable to get money to buy farm inputs to apply to my farm to get more output,” he said.

Degas, an agritech company that supports farmers with farming inputs, is a partner through the MasterCard Foundation.

Alhassan Nuru, Coordinator of Degas, said, “We are able to mobilise support for farmers and also train them to improve upon the watering and the activity they are carrying out in their communities.”

Mr. Bongo added that Degas has supported him with seed for planting, weedicide, and fertilizers.

“Degas has also trained me on how to employ crop rotation to get the maximum output. I was farming only one acre, but when Degas came in to support me, now I'm doing up to three acres. I farm two acres of maize and one acre of groundnut.”

Hikimatu Kadiri, the CEO and founder of AgroMart Limited, also shared her story of transitioning from seeking land to venturing into farming and how the program helped her secure a contract to supply inputs and mechanization services.

Watch the impactful story in the video below;

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