The Chief Operating Officer of GIRSAL Ltd, Samuel Yeboah, has emphasized the need for affordable and accessible financing for smallholder farmers in Ghana. He made this call at the Ecobank-JoyNews Financial Dialogue on September 22, where the theme was “Green Finance, Real Impact: Powering Inclusive Agri-Growth in Ghana.” Mr. Yeboah stressed that addressing the financing needs of smallholder farmers requires collaboration among stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Mr. Yeboah noted that financial support for farmers must be structured in a way that makes it accessible to those operating at the smallholder level. He suggested that funding for smallholders in the green space should be affordable and accessible, and that stakeholders can provide this support if they work together as partners. This, he believes, will help improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and promote inclusive agri-growth in Ghana.
However, Mr. Yeboah also emphasized that financing should not be considered in isolation. He stressed the importance of building the capacity of farmers and agribusinesses that are expected to benefit from such support. According to him, strengthening the capacity of farmers should form part of efforts to improve their access to support from financial institutions. This can be achieved through a strong technical assistance pillar or program that provides capacity-building support to agribusinesses and smallholder farmers.
Mr. Yeboah identified the aggregation and training of farmers as important steps in creating a more structured system through which banks can reach smallholder farmers. He explained that bringing farmers together through aggregation would help create a more organized structure for financial institutions to engage with them. This, in turn, will make it easier for banks to provide financial support to smallholder farmers.
The GIRSAL COO also highlighted the need for stronger partnerships among stakeholders to provide both financing and technical assistance to smallholder farmers. He believes that collaboration among stakeholders can help address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including limited access to finance and technical support. By working together, stakeholders can help create a more enabling environment for smallholder farmers to thrive.
Mr. Yeboah's call for affordable financing and technical support for smallholder farmers is not new. Many farmers in Ghana face significant challenges in accessing finance and technical support, which can limit their ability to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the country's agricultural sector. The GIRSAL COO's remarks are expected to contribute to the ongoing discussion on how to support smallholder farmers and promote inclusive agri-growth in Ghana.
The Ecobank-JoyNews Financial Dialogue is an important platform for discussing issues related to finance and economic development in Ghana. The event brought together stakeholders from the financial sector, government, and civil society to discuss ways to promote inclusive agri-growth and support smallholder farmers. The discussions are expected to inform policy and programming aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural development in Ghana.
Key points
- GIRSAL's COO calls for affordable financing for smallholder farmers.
- Technical assistance is crucial for building the capacity of farmers and agribusinesses.
- Stronger partnerships among stakeholders are needed to support smallholder farmers.
