Agribusinesses in Ghana are being urged to adopt a more integrated approach to investment, focusing on the entire agricultural value chain rather than just land, production, and machinery. According to agribusiness professional Gladys Sampson, companies that concentrate their resources on only one part of the value chain risk limiting their ability to achieve their broader objectives. This call was made during the Ecobank-Joy Business Financial Dialogue Series, held under the theme “Green Finance, Real Impact: Powering Inclusive Agri-Growth in Ghana.”
The dialogue brought together agricultural SMEs, entrepreneurs, regulators, and other stakeholders to discuss financing and sustainable growth in the sector. Madam Sampson emphasized that acquiring land and investing in products or industrial machinery are important but insufficient on their own. To make a business grow, she said, it is essential to look at the entire value chain and integrate it to ensure the business is growing sustainably.
Madam Sampson also highlighted the importance of research in the agricultural sector, noting that it is often overlooked. She believes that businesses should invest in research to develop new solutions and improve productivity. By leaving researchers behind, businesses miss out on critical contributions that can help them achieve their goals. Therefore, she advocates for researchers to be considered an integral part of agribusiness investment strategies.
The Ecobank-Joy Business dialogue is examining practical approaches to mobilizing capital to modernize agriculture and support businesses involved in different stages of the value chain. This discussion comes amid broader efforts to expand agricultural financing. In May 2026, Ecobank Group and AGRA announced a partnership aimed at improving access to finance for agribusinesses, farmer organizations, and other actors across agricultural value chains.
Madam Sampson’s comments underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to financing agricultural growth. She believes that financing must extend beyond supporting production and that businesses need to take a broader view of the sector by integrating the different stages of the value chain and giving research greater attention as part of their investment strategies.
The agribusiness sector in Ghana faces several challenges, including limited access to finance, which hampers the growth and development of businesses. By adopting an integrated approach to investment and focusing on the entire value chain, agribusinesses can overcome some of these challenges and achieve sustainable growth. This approach also aligns with the goals of stakeholders who are working to improve access to finance for businesses operating across Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, it is essential for agribusinesses to adapt and adopt best practices that promote sustainable growth. By investing across the entire value chain and prioritizing research, businesses can position themselves for success and contribute to the overall development of Ghana’s agricultural sector. This approach will also help to address some of the bottlenecks slowing growth in the sector and ensure that agribusinesses can achieve their broader objectives.
Key points
- Agribusinesses must adopt an integrated approach to investment, focusing on the entire agricultural value chain.
- Research is a critical component of agribusiness investment strategies that is often overlooked.
- Financing agricultural growth must extend beyond supporting production to include the entire value chain.
