In a decisive move to reduce Ghana’s heavy reliance on vegetable imports, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at boosting domestic vegetable production and transforming the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
Backed by funding from the Mastercard Foundation and Kosmos Innovation Center, the one-year project titled “Enhancing Vegetable Productivity and Market Linkages to Improve Job Creation and Sustained Incomes for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana” is set to benefit 15,000 vegetable growers across 10 selected districts and municipalities.
While grain production in Ghana has seen steady improvement, local vegetable farming still lags far behind—with Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) data revealing the country only produces 37% of its tomato, 39% of its pepper, and 29% of its onion needs.
“This project is about fixing structural gaps in our vegetable sector,” said Mr. Bismarck Owusu Nartey, Executive Director of PFAG, during a distribution exercise in Chiraa, Sunyani West. “Despite our vast arable land and growing youth population, we still import large volumes of vegetables. This must change.”
Key Project Components
The initiative addresses multiple pain points within the sector by providing participating farmers with:
- Hybrid seeds
- Organic fertilizers
- Soil testing kits
- Water pumping machines
- Sprayers and agro-chemicals
The inputs will be distributed through a flexible input credit model, allowing farmers to access critical resources without upfront financial burdens.
In total, 55 cabbage and tomato farmers at Chiraa were among the first to receive inputs including certified seeds and organic fertilizers. Beneficiaries are drawn from regions including Ada East and Ada West (Greater Accra), Techiman North (Bono East), Fanteakwa North and South (Eastern), Kassena Nankana East and West (Upper East), Sunyani West (Bono), Elembelle (Western), and North Dayi (Volta).
Empowering Women and Youth
With more than half of beneficiaries being women and youth, the project takes a gender- and youth-sensitive approach to agricultural transformation. In addition to farm inputs, PFAG is training 50 farmer leaders in governance, agronomy, and post-harvest handling, while 100 others will undergo “training of trainers” sessions for long-term knowledge transfer.
“These are people who will become the backbone of sustainable farming in their communities,” Mr. Nartey noted. “We want to create local champions who can carry the message and practices forward.”
Market Access and Structural Reform
A central component of the project is building sustainable market linkages to reduce post-harvest losses—one of the biggest barriers to farmer profitability in Ghana. Multi-stakeholder district marketing committees are being set up to help farmers negotiate better prices, reduce waste, and access consistent buyers.
“It’s not just about growing more vegetables,” explained Mr. Benjamin Sarfo, Programme Officer of PFAG. “It’s about transforming agriculture into a viable business—especially for those in marginalized and hard-to-reach areas.”
A Growing National Force
PFAG, once a small coalition of visionary farmers, now boasts over one million members across all 16 regions, with 2,000 registered Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs). Approximately 45% of PFAG’s membership are women, and 80% hail from remote communities.
Through this project, PFAG is not only addressing food security but tackling structural poverty, import dependency, and rural unemployment—key challenges in Ghana’s agricultural economy.
“We can’t continue importing what we can grow ourselves,” Mr. Nartey said. “This project is a major leap toward reclaiming our food sovereignty—led by smallholder farmers who are ready to feed the nation.”
