A new solar-powered vegetable garden in the Lijobilgu community of the Mion District is transforming the local economy by boosting agribusiness, improving nutrition, and empowering women through sustainable farming.
The one-acre fenced garden, established by CARE International with support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, represents a growing model for climate-smart, small-scale agribusiness. It aims to reduce rural poverty by turning subsistence farming into profitable microenterprises.
Under the Affordable Agricultural Financing for Resilient Rural Development (AAFORD) and Fill the Nutrition Gap (FNGAP) projects, jointly funded by the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the initiative provides farmers with the tools, training, and market linkages needed to sustain commercial vegetable farming throughout the year.
Speaking during the official handover of the garden at a Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) event, Madam Agnes Loriba, CARE International’s Northern Regional Team Leader, said the project was designed not only to promote nutrition but also to stimulate local enterprise.
“The garden is more than a farm, it’s a business classroom,” she said. “It gives women and youth the skills to manage production cycles, adopt new technologies, and generate income while improving their families’ nutrition.”
Equipped with solar-powered irrigation, the project allows for continuous cultivation even during dry seasons, ensuring steady income streams and year-round availability of vegetables such as okro, pepper, and tomatoes.
“This is how rural resilience is built,” Madam Loriba added. “By linking food production to business principles, communities can break free from cycles of hunger and dependency.”
The initiative has already begun generating economic multiplier effects across nearby communities such as Nyorigu and Zantani. Farmers report that consistent vegetable yields have improved their ability to repay loans, pay school fees, and reinvest in seeds and fertilizers.
Local trader Madam Lilo Novasang Benedicta, who chairs the CARE Ghana Nutrition Group in Lijobilgu, said before the project, residents relied on external markets for vegetables often at high prices.
“Now, we grow and sell our own produce. It’s empowering, especially for women who previously depended on erratic incomes,” she said.
Another farmer, Mr. Uwumbordo Wassak Godwin, said improved agricultural training had boosted both productivity and community health.
“Before, our children and pregnant women suffered malnutrition. Now, we eat better, earn better, and live better,” he noted.
The AAFORD project targets 50,000 farmers across six regions, 40,000 in agriculture and 10,000 in nutrition with a focus on gender equality and climate resilience.
By blending modern farming techniques with traditional knowledge, it aims to build a new generation of rural agripreneurs capable of driving local economies.
Mr. Fuseini Karim, Deputy Coordinating Director of the Mion District Assembly, praised CARE International and its partners for helping bridge the gap between agriculture and business.
“This garden is not just about food but it’s about economic transformation,” he said, urging community members to ensure its long-term sustainability.
For many in Lijobilgu, the vegetable garden represents a shift from subsistence to sustainability, positioning agriculture as a viable business and an engine for rural growth.
