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AHAFO AGRIBUSINESS GROWTH INITIATIVE (AAGI)

A SUCCESS STORY IN GHANA

Presentation by Dr. Ayesha S. Hakeem

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AC PROFILE: COMPANY BACKGROUND

African Connections Ghana Ltd. (AC) is an international business and development consultancy firm with expertise in:

• Providing High Impact Training (HIT) for small holder farmers

• Developing and strengthening Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs)

• Linking groups to financial institutions

• Linking groups to sustainable and reliable markets (domestic, regional and international)

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Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd (NGGL) is committed to sustainable economic community development

• In line with it policy to encourage and contribute to sustainable development of the communities wherein it operates, NGGL partnered with African Connections to design and implement the Ahafo Agribusiness Growth Initiative (AAGI)

• AAGI is an agricultural development program designed to help small holder farmers increase productivity, boost incomes and serve as a catalyst for local economic growth

AAGI : SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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AAGI : SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• In addition to its contributions in the design of AAGI, NGGL is the primary funder of the initiative

• NGGL also plays an active role in facilitating performance and delivery of AAGI activities

AAGI aims to:

Stimulate long-term economic growth and improve livelihoods

Strengthen agricultural productivity

Improve farmer business management skills

Build the capacity of farmers to produce to market specifications and increase market linkage

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AAGI : SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

AAGI achievements include:

• Organizing and training approximately 4000 farmers on best agricultural practices to improve productivity

• Facilitating small holder access to microfinance through an input credit scheme

• Linking farmer groups to identified buyers, processors and exporters resulting in AAGI farm produce being available on the shelves and in the markets of Europe

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FARMER BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING

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HIGH IMPACT TRAINING & EXTENSION SERVICES

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MICRO-CREDIT ACCESS FACILITATION

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AAGI: MARKET ACCESS FACILITATION

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AAGI: MARKET ACCESS FACILITATION

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ADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

To add value to farmers’ produce and improve small holder incomes:

• The support of the Government of Ghana through the Export Development & Investment Fund (EDIF) was sought

• EDIF provided funding for inputs, irrigation machinery, processing equipment and the construction of an agro-processing center

• The processing and storage centre will process chili pepper into powder and shell and store soybeans to avoid post harvest loss and increase profitability

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EDIF HANDING OVER TRACTORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENTS TO AC & NGGL

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THE END

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!

ANY QUESTIONS?