Ghana

Background:

Ghana’s economy is growing at a steady pace, but many farmers remain vulnerable to economic shocks and extreme weather. The growing economy presents opportunities to connect farmers to markets and increase their incomes.

Heifer International had a presence in Ghana in the early 1980s, working with communities raising rabbits. We returned to the country in 1999, working with farmers to cultivate snails in Mobole, a suburb of Accra, as a source of valuable protein. Since then, we have focused on working with farmers in the goat, sheep, swine, poultry, dairy honey, and crop value chains.

Our Escaping Poverty project provides coaching, cash grants and agricultural inputs to families in north and central Ghana. Businesses supported through the project include those focused on raising goats, chickens, and pigs; growing sweet potatoes, corn, rice, and vegetables; and processing shea butter and making soap products. Ghana’s government, the University of Ghana and Innovations for Poverty Action are supporting this project.

We are also working with cocoa farmers and chocolate company Barry Callebaut to diversify incomes, supporting farmers to expand production into secondary value chains such as eggs, honey and mushroom production. This is currently a pilot project.

Living Income

Heifer International invests in farmers and business owners around the world, because we know having a secure source of income can be truly transformational for families and their communities. With support from our in-country teams, project participants build sustainable businesses to close the living income gap.

Living Income is the amount of money each person in a household needs per day to live a dignified life.

In Ghana, we are currently using US$2.35 in Ashanti and Western North.

Partners

• Barry Callebaut
• Government of Ghana
• Innovations for Poverty Action
• International Development Research Center
• McGill University of Canada
• University of Ghana