Ghanaian Farmer Gains Attention from Investor
by Glorica Obodai, Digital Media Associate for EWS-KT Ghana
BONO EAST REGION, GHANA – Last month, cabbage farmer Matthew Osei found himself happily in the spotlight. Thanks to his hard work and a little publicity, he is now in a position to expand his farming business.
Adopting Effective Techniques
Matthew, a dedicated farmer from Hansua, in Techiman Metropolitan District, has been enthusiastically implementing the vegetable production techniques he is learning from East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT).
In November 2024, Matthew received a visit from Elijah Mwashayenyi, EWS-KT Head of Knowledge Transfer for Africa, who was in the country to assess the progress of local farming initiatives. Matthew has been learning from EWS-KT under the Transforming Vegetable Farming as a Business project, which is co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Accra.
Elijah was impressed with the rapid adoption of modern agricultural practices on Matthew’s farm, especially his extensive use of raised beds for cabbage cultivation. Matthew’s commitment to enhancing his farming practices was evident, as he had constructed one acre of raised beds—a method that promises improved crop yield and healthier soil conditions.
The Power of Social Media
Fast-forward to 31 December 2024, when Matthew harvested his first cabbage crop. Celebrating his success, EWS-KT Ghana’s Digital Media Associate, Glorica Obodai, posted his photo and impressive returns on the organization’s Farming in Ghana Facebook page and the social media platform Buzsquare.
The post quickly caught the eye of George Antwi-Bosiako, the CEO of AgriCo Hub, a Ghanaian investment firm in the agriculture industry. Impressed by the quality and scale of Matthew’s operation, George reached out to Matthew directly to explore potential investment opportunities for his farm.
Shortly thereafter, George visited Matthew’s farm to assess the situation firsthand. During the visit, George was impressed not only with the farm’s potential but also with Matthew’s commitment to continuous learning. Matthew had participated in almost every training session organized by EWS-KT, demonstrating a clear dedication to improving his farming practices.
A New Opportunity
This visit proved to be a turning point for Matthew’s farming journey. George expressed an interest in involving Matthew’s farm in an AgriCo Hub pilot project to invest in vegetable farming, focusing on farmers who have been trained by Ghana-based organizations. The idea is to nurture and scale up investments in smallholder farms with proven success stories, like Matthew’s.
In a significant move, George pledged to invest 30,000 cedis in Matthew’s 3-acre farm, marking the beginning of a promising partnership with AgriCo Hub. This investment will support the expansion of Matthew’s farm while launching the pilot phase of AgriCo Hub’s initiative to boost vegetable farming in the region, providing valuable resources for scaling up operations and increasing yields.
This development is not only a major milestone for Matthew but also a testament to the transformative impact of training and support for smallholder farmers in Ghana.
By equipping farmers with the right tools, knowledge, and resources, the vegetable sector is beginning to attract the attention and investment needed for long-term sustainability and growth.
As Matthew’s farm continues to flourish, it stands as an example of the potential that lies within Ghana’s agricultural sector. George extended heartfelt thanks to the organizations involved, both in Ghana and globally, for their continued support in fostering such impactful transformations for local farmers.
The future of agriculture in Ghana looks bright, with more and more smallholder farmers like Matthew Osei taking center stage in the movement toward a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector.
