In Savelugu, in the Northern Region of Ghana, the maize season often begins with pressure. Before planting, farmers must secure funds for fertiliser, weedicide, ploughing, and improved seeds. For many smallholder farmers, these upfront costs can delay planting. And in agriculture, timing determines yield.
Timely Support at the Start of the Season
In 2023, 300 smallholder maize farmers began their season differently. Through a partnership with Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans, WamiAgro distributed input credit to farmers at the start of the planting season. Farmers received certified maize seeds, fertiliser, weedicide, and mechanisation services including ploughing. Land preparation was done on time, and crops were planted within the optimal window.
Reducing Risk Beyond the Farm
The Support did not end in the field. One of the greatest risks farmers face is market uncertainty after harvest. Without access to fair and reliable markets, farmers frequently sell below value, limiting their earnings and exposing them to post harvest losses.
To address this, WamiAgro secured offtaker contracts at the start of the season to guarantee market for the smallholder farmers, reducing post-harvest losses, stabilising incomes, and enabling the smooth recovery of input credit.
From Financial Pressure to Farming with Confidence
The result was a successful production cycle from planting to sale. The intervention removed the financial strain farmers experience at the beginning of the season and reduced post-harvest losses significantly. For 300 farmers in Savelugu, this meant farming with structure, predictability, renewed confidence, and profitability.
When farmers are supported at both ends of the value chain, empowerment becomes practical and sustainable.