Jun 11, 2026
The Transforming Households Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE 2030) project has set out to empower more than 800,000 people across 160,000 households, as stakeholders intensify efforts to build resilient and inclusive agribusiness value chains.
At the National Market Actors’ Forum in Tamale convened by World Vision Ghana, participants underscored the need to strengthen market linkages, improve price transparency and promote structured trading to unlock growth across the agriculture sector.
Held under the theme ‘Partnering for Prosperity: Strengthening Market Linkages for All’, the two-day forum brought together producers, processors, buyers, investors, policy-makers and development partners to deepen collaboration and drive sustainable agribusiness development.
The THRIVE 2030 initiative, supported by the Ghana Commodity Exchange and VisionFund, forms part of an eight-year strategy aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty reduction, gender equality and decent work.
Director of Agribusiness at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, representing Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi, said ongoing policy reforms are aimed at de-risking agriculture and positioning the sector for value addition.
He noted that government is strengthening agribusiness policy to shift Ghana from a raw commodity exporter to a processing-driven economy, while integrating women and youth—particularly in the shea and cashew value chains—into structured markets.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, Evelyn Abakah, stressed that resilient value chains depend on adequate storage and aggregation infrastructure, as well as enforcement of standards and supportive trade policies.
She added that fair pricing, reduced financing risks and reliable supply chains are essential to sustaining competitiveness and delivering quality products to consumers.
Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John reiterated government’s commitment to expanding access to productive assets, improving post-harvest handling and strengthening extension services, particularly for smallholder farmers and agri-based enterprises.
National Director of World Vision Ghana, Tinah T. Mukundah, called on the private sector and financial institutions to treat rural smallholders as viable investment partners, while urging policy-makers to prioritise infrastructure, insurance and fair pricing frameworks.
She emphasised that improving household incomes remains central to child welfare, noting that economic vulnerability undermines long-term development outcomes.
Under its broader Everyone THRIVE agenda launched in 2024, World Vision Ghana is targeting 160,000 households, with the aim of doubling incomes for about 400,000 people within three years through enhanced capabilities, market access and financial inclusion.
Jun 11, 2026
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), have convened the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa, Accra.
The consultation brings together policymakers, researchers, development partners, private-sector actors, civil society, farmer organisations and regional institutions to advance the integration of neglected and underutilised crop species into Africa’s food systems.
These crops, increasingly referred to as opportunity crops, include millets, sorghum landraces, fonio, bambara groundnut, indigenous vegetables and other traditional crops that are deeply rooted in African food cultures but remain under-researched, under-invested and insufficiently represented in formal food, seed, research and market systems.
The conference comes at a critical moment for Africa’s agrifood systems. The continent continues to face interlinked challenges, including hunger, malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, rapid urbanisation and growing dependence on imported foods.
According to the conference concept note, roughly one in five people in Africa faced hunger in 2024, while more than one billion people on the continent could not afford a healthy diet. At the same time, Africa’s rich plant genetic diversity, which underpins food security, nutrition, livelihoods and cultural heritage, is under increasing threat.
Opportunity crops offer practical pathways for addressing these challenges. Many are nutrient-dense, locally adapted, resilient to climate shocks, suitable for smallholder systems and capable of contributing to diversified diets, local economies and climate-resilient agriculture.
However, their potential has been constrained by limited research investment, weak seed systems, fragmented value chains, low consumer awareness, inadequate market development and insufficient policy support.
Speaking ahead of the consultation, both organizing agencies underscored that opportunity crops should be repositioned as strategic assets for Africa’s food systems transformation, given their contribution to biodiversity, nutrition, resilience and cultural identity.
The consultation will also contribute to continental policy momentum following the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration, which calls on African Union Member States to increase the production and consumption of nutritious traditional and indigenous crops through appropriate policy, regulatory and financing mechanisms.
Over the three days, participants will review national and regional experiences with opportunity crops, discuss policy and institutional frameworks, examine approaches to conservation and sustainable use, and identify pathways to strengthen production, seed systems, value chains, research, capacity development, awareness-raising and market integration.
The programme will feature technical sessions on overcoming barriers to opportunity crops, strengthening knowledge and capacity, advancing regional action, promoting on-farm diversity and local adaptation, conserving crop genetic resources, improving breeding and pre-breeding systems, developing seed systems, and building the business case for opportunity crops.
The consultation will culminate in working-group discussions to develop an action-oriented regional roadmap to integrate opportunity crops into Africa’s agrifood systems.
The consultation will include contributions from regional and continental institutions, including the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDECA, CGIAR, centres, Crop Trust, universities, farmer organisations, private sector actors, and other partners working to advance agricultural biodiversity and resilient food systems across Africa.
The event is expected to foster a shared understanding of the opportunities, gaps and priorities for mainstreaming opportunity crops in Africa, while strengthening partnerships among governments, research institutions, farmers, private-sector actors and civil society.
A key outcome will be a regional roadmap and collaborative action plan to guide future investments, policy reforms and coordinated implementation.
The consultation will be held in a hybrid format with interpretation in English and French, enabling wider participation across Africa and beyond.
Jun 11, 2026
Honorable Eric Opoku, Minister for Food and Agriculture, has announced a bold and transformative shift in Ghana’s agricultural strategy, aimed at repositioning the country toward a structured and industrialized tree crop economy.
The Minister made this declaration when he addressed participants at the maiden edition of the Ghana Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition (GTCIS 2026), held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. The high-level event attracted a distinguished audience, including His Excellency the President, John Dramani Mahama; His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, represented by Nana Kwame Baffoe IV, Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area; Ministers of State; Chief Executive Officers; development partners; investors; and key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Eric Opoku explained that the current administration is deliberately transforming Ghana’s tree crops sector from fragmented and largely informal production systems into organized, investment-ready pillars of national economic growth. He noted that the new approach prioritizes order, predictability and sustainability, underpinned by a robust regulatory framework led by the Tree Crops Development Authority.
“This strategic reset is about creating confidence for both farmers and investors,” the Minister said. “We are strengthening access to reliable planting materials, expanding extension services, and enforcing industry standards that will protect investments while improving farmer incomes.”
A key highlight of the Minister’s address was the urgent need for Ghana to move beyond the export of raw agricultural commodities. He stressed that the future of the sector lies in value addition, calling for increased local processing of cashew and shea, the development of integrated agro-industrial hubs for coconut and oil palm, and the expansion of rubber and mango into high-value manufactured products. To support this agenda, the Ministry is working to secure land banks in suitable ecological zones and is collaborating closely with institutions such as the Ghana Standards Authority to ensure compliance with international export requirements.
Placing farmers at the heart of the transformation, Hon. Eric Opoku announced plans to scale up the distribution of certified elite seedlings and establish training hubs to boost productivity and significantly reduce post-harvest losses. He emphasized the inclusive nature of the strategy, highlighting the central role of women in the shea sector and the growing participation of young people in cashew and mango value chains, positioning tree crops as a sustainable pathway for rural livelihoods and youth employment.
In conclusion, the Minister invited private sector players to partner with government in building long-term value across the tree crops sector. Referencing opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area, he urged financial institutions to treat tree crops as structured, asset-backed investments rather than speculative ventures.
“With coordinated production, effective regulation and strong local processing, Ghana’s tree crop sector is moving decisively from potential to prosperity,” Hon. Eric Opoku affirmed.
Jun 11, 2026
The Government of Ghana is scaling up efforts to boost vegetable production through the construction of 25 modern solar-powered boreholes in selected districts across the five northern regions.
The initiative is being carried out under the Greater Rural Opportunities for Women 2 (GROW2) Project, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada and implementation by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
With an investment of approximately GH¢8 million, the project is expected to benefit women in more than 3,000 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) within the beneficiary communities. The initiative seeks to provide reliable and sustainable water supply systems for year-round vegetable production, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen household incomes.
Speaking at the symbolic inauguration ceremony held at Moglaa in the Northern Region, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, described the project as a strategic intervention aimed at transforming dry-season farming and improving irrigation access across the Northern, Upper West and Savannah regions.
According to the Minister, inconsistent rainfall patterns and inadequate access to water sources have over the years constrained agricultural productivity and contributed to seasonal unemployment among farmers in northern Ghana.
He noted that the solar-powered boreholes would provide an environmentally sustainable source of irrigation water, enabling farmers, particularly women to cultivate vegetables throughout the year rather than depending solely on the rainy season.
Hon. Opoku further indicated that the initiative forms part of broader government efforts to modernise agriculture, strengthen food security, increase farmers’ incomes and reduce poverty, especially in underserved communities.
He emphasized that the intervention would position northern Ghana as a major hub for year-round vegetable production and contribute significantly to the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Myriam Montrat, said the inauguration represented more than the commissioning of infrastructure, describing it as a symbol of opportunity, resilience and strong international partnership.
She commended MEDA and the implementing partners for their commitment, adaptability and community-centered approach in supporting women farmers and rural livelihoods.
The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John Mburidiba, also described the solar-powered irrigation systems as transformative interventions that would harness renewable energy to support sustainable agriculture in the region.
He noted that the facilities would enable women farmers in communities such as Moglaa to engage in all-year-round vegetable cultivation, particularly during the dry season, thereby improving food production and household incomes.
Jun 10, 2026
Ghana and the Netherlands have taken a significant step to reinforce bilateral cooperation in agriculture, with a renewed focus on strengthening the vegetable seed sector to boost food security and sustainability.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, announced that the two countries have signed an addendum to an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), originally agreed on 28th May 2025, under the Food and Agriculture Working Group.
The agreement was formalised in The Hague on Tuesday, April 14, alongside his Dutch counterpart, Silvo Erkens.
“Following the MoU signed on 28 May 2025, Ghana and the Netherlands have strengthened their partnership through an addendum under the Food and Agriculture Working Group, focusing on the vegetable seed sector,” Mr Dumelo stated in his Facebook post.
He emphasised that the renewed collaboration is designed to advance sustainable agricultural practices and improve food systems in Ghana.
“The collaboration will enhance sustainable agriculture and food security by strengthening seed systems, improving access to quality seeds, and promoting research, innovation, and partnerships,” he added.
According to the deputy minister, the agreement underscores a shared commitment between both countries to leverage expertise and innovation in addressing challenges within the agricultural value chain.
Mr Dumelo further disclosed that his official visit to the Netherlands, undertaken at the invitation of the Dutch government, is ongoing and will include strategic engagements with key stakeholders.
“On the invitation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the three-day working visit continues today with visits to research institutions, fertiliser and major seeds producers across the country,” he noted.
The strengthened partnership is expected to open new avenues for technical cooperation, investment, and knowledge transfer, positioning Ghana’s agricultural sector for improved productivity and resilience.
Source:JoyOnline
