More income in the agricultural sector 
through better quality

Almost 40 percent of the workforce in Ghana is employed in agriculture, and about one-third of the gross domestic product is generated through agricultural production. 80 percent of agricultural products are produced by smallholder farmers. These farmers often lack know-how, resources, financing and marketing contacts.

Product quality and quantity of Ghanaian agricultural products are often too low, making the products non-competitive. Soil cultivation is often inadequate and is made more difficult by high fertiliser prices. Plant diseases and pests can spread due to a lack of quality processes, significantly reducing harvests. In addition, improper storage and transportation of the harvest often lead to high post-harvest losses. Lack of transparency in supply chains, as well as unclear production data, make access to export markets difficult – especially with regard to international competition and the European supply chain law.

When it comes to processing fruit and vegetables, there is often a lack of capital and technology to produce the minimum quantities required for market access. There are women-led small businesses, but they lack support for quality management, among other things, to improve export opportunities through necessary certifications. The proportion of women on farms is also low: the lack of childcare limits the employment opportunities for female workers.

Since October 2023, the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) has been working with two high-performing producer associations in Ghana – the Association of Sweet Potato Producers and Exporters of Ghana (ASPPEG) and the SPEG Pineapple Producers and Exporters of Ghana. In 2024, the Women Processors Association of Ghana (SHEPAG) was newly established, an association for the processing of fruit and vegetables, led by women.

The goal of the PartnerAfrica project supported by Invest for Jobs is to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural products, especially sweet potatoes and pineapples, by strengthening the associations and their member companies. This is intended to enhance export capacity and, consequently, international competitiveness, thereby sustainably increasing income and employment in rural areas.

By 2026, 100 new, good jobs are to be created, half of them for women. In addition, working conditions and income are to improve for 300 employees. To achieve this, the PartnerAfrica project funds consulting and training as well as supportive equipment for the following measures:

• Use of biofertilier based on biochar to improve soil quality – supported by demonstration fields, training, and soil analyses
• Expansion of services provided by producers’ associations for their members (e.g., reproduction of plant material based on new seed, centralized procurement of operating supplies)
• Digitalisation and analysis of production data for best practices, as well as automated report generation, which forms the basis for further digital services – taking into account EU regulations and international certification requirements
• Promotion of female entrepreneurs in the processing sector, including start-up financing, continuous quality management for international market demands, business coaching, and networking within the new women’s association SHEPAG
• Piloting childcare facilities on farms to increase female employment