The Norwegian government is supporting a €3 million agricultural initiative aimed at improving market access for soybean farmers and strengthening Ghana’s soybean value chain.
The programme, known as the Making Agrifood Markets Accessible (MAMA) programme, seeks to create better market opportunities for smallholder farmers, agricultural businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating within Ghana’s agrifood sector.
The initiative is being implemented through a partnership involving IDH, AGRA, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and YARA, with a focus on improving agricultural market systems and promoting sustainable food production.
Norway Supports Ghana’s Soybean Farmers
The €3 million investment is expected to help address market access challenges facing soybean farmers while creating opportunities for stronger connections between producers, agribusinesses and buyers.
Improving access to reliable markets is considered essential to increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening farmers’ incomes and encouraging private-sector investment in Ghana’s agricultural industry.
Through the MAMA programme, participating organisations aim to build on previous interventions designed to improve market access for small and medium-sized farmers and enterprises.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to the development of a more efficient soybean value chain, supporting agricultural trade and expanding opportunities for businesses involved in soybean production and processing.
MAMA Programme to Build on Previous Agricultural Interventions
Speaking at the launch of the MAMA programme, Mascha Middlebeck, Programme Director for Africa Food System Transformation at IDH, said the initiative would build on earlier efforts to improve access to markets for small and medium-sized farmers and enterprises.
She highlighted the importance of strengthening existing interventions to ensure farmers and agricultural businesses can connect more effectively with market opportunities.
The programme’s approach is expected to support greater participation in agrifood markets while addressing barriers that limit the growth of farmers and agricultural enterprises.
Boosting Ghana’s Agribusiness and Food Production
Ghana’s soybean sector plays an important role in agricultural development, with soybeans serving as a key input for animal feed, food processing and other agro-industrial activities.
Improving the soybean value chain could help farmers access more reliable buyers, encourage investment in processing and distribution, and support the wider development of Ghana’s agribusiness industry.
The Norwegian government’s €3 million support for the MAMA programme underscores the importance of international partnerships in strengthening agricultural markets, improving rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable food systems.
As implementation progresses, the initiative aims to build on existing efforts to make agrifood markets more accessible and create new opportunities for farmers and agricultural businesses across Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com