Women-led agricultural enterprise Mariseth Farms secures over $1 million to enhance Ghana's small-scale farming communities
In a significant move for the agribusiness sector in Ghana, Mariseth Farms, a women-led company, has secured over $1 million in funding from a consortium including RDF Ghana, Sahel Capital, and ABSA Bank. This investment is aimed at supporting the company's growth and operational scale-up.
The funding, which includes a $560,000 working capital loan from Sahel Capital, will enable Mariseth Farms to expand its operations. The company, founded in 2016, aggregates crops from smallholder farmers and supplies these to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies across several regions in Ghana.
Mariseth Farms is notable for its female leadership, with Marian Ofori Twumasi at the helm, and a workforce that is 70% women. CEO Twumasi expresses that this investment is proof that women are driving agribusiness growth in Ghana.
The impact of this funding is significant. It will allow Mariseth Farms to scale up farm aggregation, improve market access for smallholder farmers, and enhance supply chain efficiencies by integrating technologies like solar cold rooms and satellite-powered farm management. These innovations contribute to reducing post-harvest losses and improving product quality.
Future plans for Mariseth Farms likely involve leveraging the working capital and investment to deepen their value chain involvement, broaden their market reach across Ghana, and enhance their climate-smart agricultural practices to drive sustainable agribusiness growth and empower women in agriculture.
With this investment, Mariseth Farms is poised to become a leading example of women-led agribusinesses driving inclusive agricultural transformation in Ghana. The investment will also support the growth of the smallholder supplier network, establish new offtaker and export partnerships, and fund the expansion of in-house crop production.
As the Executive Director of WISHH, Gena Perry, and John Scicchitano, Partner at Pangea Africa, join the board, Mariseth Farms is set to make a significant impact on the agribusiness sector in Ghana and beyond. Yaw Oppong, CEO of RDF Ghana, expresses that investing in Mariseth is key to improving rural livelihoods and driving sustainable ag development.
References:
- Mariseth Farms secures $1 million investment
- Mariseth Farms: A women-led agribusiness driving transformation in Ghana
- Mariseth Farms secures $1 million to scale up operations
- Mariseth Farms' future plans to deepen value chain involvement
- Women-led agribusinesses in Ghana: A growing trend
- The investment secured by Mariseth Farms could potentially involve financing for strategic partnerships in other sectors, such as sports or finance, to broaden their market reach and support operational efficiency.
- In addition to improving agricultural practices, Mariseth Farms may also focus on educational programs to help smallholder farmers stay informed about weather predictions and adapt their farming methods to mitigate risks associated with uncertain weather conditions.
