Enhancing the competitiveness of the Sesame Value Chain
Ghana,
concluded
The goal of the project is to improve incomes and employment among small holder farmers.
Project overview
The economy of Northern Ghana was predominantly agrarian, and agriculture played an important role in sustaining the livelihoods of the population. Sesame emerged as a new commodity that offered significant income and empowerment opportunities for farmers, many of whom were women, in Northern Ghana.
Sesame was particularly suitable for the semi-arid conditions of the region. Consequently, SNV developed the sesame project beginning in 2013. The initiative, titled "Enhancing the competitiveness of the sesame value chain for improved incomes of smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana," was a three-year project funded by DGIS. It was considered the "cocoa of Northern Ghana" due to its ability to withstand the harsh climatic conditions of the Savannah areas. The primary goal of the project was to improve incomes and employment among smallholder farmers.
Project objectives and strategic focus
To achieve its goals, the project targeted several key areas:
Productivity: Improved the yield and productivity of sesame per acre.
Post-harvest management: Enhanced post-harvest handling and processing techniques.
Expansion: Increased the total acreage under sesame cultivation.
Market access: Improved access to reliable markets for sesame producers.
Implementation approach
The project utilised a comprehensive approach that placed a strong emphasis on:
Strengthening farmer organisations: Transformed farmer groups into sustainable producer organisations focused on the sesame business.
Access to inputs and services: Strengthened access to improved seeds, credit, and produce aggregation, while providing extension services and business management training.
Building business linkages: Strengthened the commercial connections between producer groups, local processors, and international buyers.
