A young agripreneur, Adjei Laryea, has significantly expanded his cassava farming business after receiving support from the African Development Bank Group-funded Post-COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP).
Mr Laryea, who runs a group farming enterprise under EA Paradox, ventured into cassava cultivation due to its versatility and resilience, citing its multiple industrial and food uses as a key driver of his investment decision.
He noted that despite securing approximately 23 acres of land, his operations initially struggled due to limited capital and inadequate labour.
“Before the support, we were finding it difficult to scale up and get more hands because the land is huge,” he said.
With financial assistance of GH¢60,000 under the PSDPEP, Mr Laryea expanded cultivation from about one acre to three acres, resulting in higher yields and improved productivity.
He noted that output increased from an average of 30 to 40 bags of cassava per acre to significantly larger volumes, attributing the growth to increased acreage and better access to labour.
“Once the acres increased, automatically your yield increases… now we supply more than before,” he explained.
The PSDPEP initiative, implemented through agencies including the Social Investment Fund, provides affordable financing, training, and operational support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beneficiaries under the programme access loans at interest rates capped at about 12 per cent annually, alongside capacity-building support delivered by partners such as the Africa Skills Hub.
The project targets key sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, and hospitality, with the aim of supporting about 25,000 MSMEs nationwide to recover and expand.
Mr Laryea said the intervention had also strengthened employment on the farm, with the business now engaging up to 20 casual workers during peak periods, compared to fewer than five previously. A permanent caretaker has also been employed to improve farm management.
Despite the progress, he identified lack of machinery as a major constraint to scaling operations, particularly in processing.
He explained that plans to acquire processing equipment, estimated at about GH¢50,000 per unit, have been delayed due to financial limitations, prompting the business to prioritise land expansion for now.
“We are still looking at getting the machinery so production can be fully done on the farm,” he said.
Currently, cassava processing is undertaken using mobile units sourced from nearby communities, while most of the produce is sold locally, with some reaching markets outside the immediate area.
Looking ahead, Mr Laryea expressed confidence in expanding the business further and entering export markets within the next five years.
“In the next five years, we want to expand and be in a position where we can export, and have enough machinery and infrastructure to make the farm stand out,” he said.
Beyond cassava, the farm has diversified into pepper, plantain, and maize cultivation to optimise land use and reduce seasonal risks.
He encouraged young people interested in agriculture to seek professional advice and build strong networks to enhance their chances of success.
“Farming can be easy, but it’s not as easy as you think. Where you need advice, go for it,” he advised.
The farm’s caretaker, Kanda Gbedemah, an electrical engineer by training, said agriculture had provided him with more stable income compared to construction work.
“I can say, since I started, I can see things going well for me because construction can come once in the year. If you don’t manage the money well, you won’t get another one. But with farming, when you plan it well and follow the seasons, at the end of the day, you get results,” he said.
Mr Gbedemah also urged more young people to consider agriculture as a sustainable and rewarding career path.
