ADB launches Green-Grow scheme to empower smallholder vegetable farmers

Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC introduced the Green-Grow Vegetable Farmers Lending Scheme to enhance access to structured agricultural financing for smallholder vegetable farmers and increase local vegetable production. This initiative supports ADB’s focus on agricultural transformation, financial inclusion, and sustainable agribusiness development, positioning the Bank as a key financing partner in enhancing Ghana’s domestic food production capabilities.

The first phase targeted smallholder vegetable farmers in irrigation areas of the Greater Accra and Volta Regions, with plans to expand further. The scheme aims to tackle the main issue smallholder farmers face: limited access to affordable, timely financing to purchase crucial farm inputs, improve productivity, and maximize returns.

ADB’s Managing Director, Edward Ato Sarpong, highlighted the Bank’s commitment to empowering farmers through investments, emphasizing that "Ghana’s agricultural transformation must be driven by deliberate investments that empower farmers to produce more, earn more, and contribute meaningfully to national development." The initiative reflects ADB’s shift towards innovative financing solutions tailored for agricultural producers.

Deputy Managing Director, Prof. Ferdinand Makafui Ahiakpor, described the scheme as a strategic move to address the financing gap in Ghana’s agricultural value chain, noting that access to appropriate financing is crucial for unlocking the sector's full potential. The structured lending approach of the scheme will align financing with farmers' production activities, promote responsible lending practices, and foster long-term financial sustainability.

The General Manager for Agribusiness, Mr. Kwame Asiedu Attrams, explained that the initiative emerged from field engagements with vegetable farmers, revealing significant production potential hampered by inadequate financing and high credit costs. The pilot phase will focus on vegetable production, considering seasonal factors and market demand.

Eligibility criteria for the scheme include access to irrigation, farming experience, group cohesion, and a satisfactory credit history. The Green-Grow Vegetable Farmers Lending Scheme is part of ADB's broader strategy to enhance agricultural value chains and support the development of sustainable, commercially viable farming enterprises in Ghana.