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Ghana will experience an increase in horticultural production and exports with the launch of the financial product Export-Out Grower under the "Access to Finance" option of the HortiFresh program.
Supported by the Embbady of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, the financial product aims to sustainably improve access to finance for smallholders and exporters in the fruit and vegetable sector.
The signing of the cooperation agreement of the first Exporter-Out financial product between Joekopan, Rabobank Foundation and HortiFresh took place on the occasion of the HortiFresh fair at Blue Skies, one of Ghana's leading fresh fruit exporters and juice producer for the local market.
Ms Carola Schouten, Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, said that the Netherlands' commitment to growing the horticulture sector in Ghana was supported by the HortiFresh program.
She said the horticulture sector, by its very nature, could provide many jobs, exports and sustainable economic growth in Ghana.
She called for collaboration between the private sector, research institutes and governments, this cooperation being the key to the successful sustainable development of the horticulture sector in other countries.
Joekopan is one of the top three exporters of vegetables in Ghana and won the Vegetable Exporter of the Year award in 2013 and 2014, while Rabobank of the Netherlands is the largest AgriFood bank in the world. .
Mr. Sjoerd Herms, director and senior business consultant at Advance Consulting, said in January 2019 that the Rabobank Foundation had provided Joekopan with funding for exporting producers for investments in a dam and equipment. 39, irrigation, as well as for the pre-financing of small farmers, which provide Joekopan.
For HortiFresh and the Rabobank Foundation, the loan is the second commitment in a long-term partnership through which a number of projects, including those focused on smallholders, will be supported.
He pointed out that the financial cooperation agreement between exporting and exporting producers was the second financial product of HortiFresh, which provided for a loan to exporting companies.
Mr. Herms, also a consultant to the HortiFresh program, said that it was interesting to note that loans to the agricultural sector accounted for only 4% of the total loan portfolio of Ghanaian banks, while the vast majority of these loans were granted to cocoa companies. .
The consultant said improving access to finance for smallholder farmers and exporters was crucial to achieving this goal, as investments were needed to improve productivity and marketing.
"Currently, funding is only available for a few companies," he said.
He said that Joekpoan's investments in badets such as dams, irrigation and biological control measures would increase production in an environmentally sustainable manner.
He said that pre-financing improved seeds to smallholders in their networks would have the same effect.
Sheila Assibey-Yeboah, HortiFresh project manager, said the goal of the HortiFresh program was to build a sustainable and internationally competitive fruit and vegetable sector, contributing to inclusive economic growth, food and nutrition security.
She added that HortiFresh would develop four financial products in the coming years to improve access to financing for smallholders and exporters in the fruit and vegetable sector.
She said that HortiFresh would support the adoption of the financial product in the sector by selecting the right businesses and financial institutions, helping companies to develop bankable business plans, supporting businesses and businesses. financial institutions during due diligence, and by providing support to agriculture and business enterprises. companies and smallholders during implementation.
"These services will reduce the risk for financing institutions and more than 10 Ghanaian banks have already shown a strong interest in the financial product for Export-Out producers," she said.
Juliana Opuni, CEO of Joekopan, said in an interview that this support would help the company expand its business and allow them to employ more people to improve their work.
She added that it would also allow them to hire more agronomists to help farmers in their daily activities to increase their yields.
She expressed gratitude to the management of the HortiFresh program for the confidence it had in continuing to contribute to the sector.
At the event, various farmers and Ghanaian companies in the fruit and vegetable sector presented their products.
There are Ruk Zwaan, AB Farms, Eden Tree Limited, Joekopan, Fruit Masters, Tikola Limited and Iribov West Africa.
Ghana will experience an increase in horticultural production and exports with the launch of the financial product Export-Out Grower under the "Access to Finance" option of the HortiFresh program.
Supported by the Embbady of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, the financial product aims to sustainably improve access to finance for smallholders and exporters in the fruit and vegetable sector.
The signing of the cooperation agreement of the first Exporter-Out financial product between Joekopan, Rabobank Foundation and HortiFresh took place on the occasion of the HortiFresh fair at Blue Skies, one of Ghana's leading fresh fruit exporters and juice producer for the local market.
Ms Carola Schouten, Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, said that the Netherlands' commitment to growing the horticulture sector in Ghana was supported by the HortiFresh program.
She said the horticulture sector, by its very nature, could provide many jobs, exports and sustainable economic growth in Ghana.
She called for collaboration between the private sector, research institutes and governments, this cooperation being the key to the successful sustainable development of the horticulture sector in other countries.
Joekopan is one of the top three exporters of vegetables in Ghana and won the Vegetable Exporter of the Year award in 2013 and 2014, while Rabobank of the Netherlands is the largest AgriFood bank in the world. .
Mr. Sjoerd Herms, director and senior business consultant at Advance Consulting, said in January 2019 that the Rabobank Foundation had provided Joekopan with funding for exporting producers for investments in a dam and equipment. 39, irrigation, as well as for the pre-financing of small farmers, which provide Joekopan.
For HortiFresh and the Rabobank Foundation, the loan is the second commitment in a long-term partnership through which a number of projects, including those focused on smallholders, will be supported.
He pointed out that the financial cooperation agreement between exporting and exporting producers was the second financial product of HortiFresh, which provided for a loan to exporting companies.
Mr. Herms, also a consultant to the HortiFresh program, said that it was interesting to note that loans to the agricultural sector accounted for only 4% of the total loan portfolio of Ghanaian banks, while the vast majority of these loans were granted to cocoa companies. .
The consultant said improving access to finance for smallholder farmers and exporters was crucial to achieving this goal, as investments were needed to improve productivity and marketing.
"Currently, funding is only available for a few companies," he said.
He said that Joekpoan's investments in badets such as dams, irrigation and biological control measures would increase production in an environmentally sustainable manner.
He said that pre-financing improved seeds to smallholders in their networks would have the same effect.
Sheila Assibey-Yeboah, HortiFresh project manager, said the goal of the HortiFresh program was to build a sustainable and internationally competitive fruit and vegetable sector, contributing to inclusive economic growth, food and nutrition security.
She added that HortiFresh would develop four financial products in the coming years to improve access to financing for smallholders and exporters in the fruit and vegetable sector.
She said that HortiFresh would support the adoption of the financial product in the sector by selecting the right businesses and financial institutions, helping companies to develop bankable business plans, supporting businesses and businesses. financial institutions during due diligence, and by providing support to agriculture and business enterprises. companies and smallholders during implementation.
"These services will reduce the risk for financing institutions and more than 10 Ghanaian banks have already shown a strong interest in the financial product for Export-Out producers," she said.
Juliana Opuni, CEO of Joekopan, told the Ghana News Agency that this support would help the company expand its business and allow them to employ more people to improve their work.
She added that it would also allow them to hire more agronomists to help farmers in their daily activities to increase their yields.
She expressed gratitude to the management of the HortiFresh program for the confidence it had in continuing to contribute to the sector.
At the event, various farmers and Ghanaian companies in the fruit and vegetable sector presented their products.
There are Ruk Zwaan, AB Farms, Eden Tree Limited, Joekopan, Fruit Masters, Tikola Limited and Iribov West Africa.
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