Rujo Agri-Trade Ltd., a northern Ghana-based agribusiness focused on inclusive rural development, has secured strategic funding from RDF Ghana to expand its climate-smart farming initiatives and deepen support for smallholder farmers.
According to Rujo, the funding will drive the scale-up of its rice input credit scheme, which integrates regenerative and climate-smart agricultural practices.
The aim is to lower production costs, conserve the environment, and increase resilience against climate shocks.
In addition to enhancing input support, the investment will also be used to improve market access for smallholder farmers. Rujo plans to aggregate more paddy rice to supply its newly installed processing facility, creating a reliable off-take market for its farmer network.
Another key component of the expansion is the introduction of agricultural insurance under the company’s out-grower model. This is expected to significantly de-risk production and cushion farmers from unexpected losses, further strengthening food security in the region.
“This funding is a strong endorsement of Rujo’s model and our deep-rooted commitment to improving farmer livelihoods through sustainable practices,” said Joshua Toatoba, Chief Executive Officer of Rujo Agri-Trade.
“We are grateful to RDF Ghana and Pangea Africa for believing in our vision. This support will help us deepen our reach and improve productivity while promoting climate resilience in Ghana’s food systems.”
The capital injection, announced in a statement by the company, is poised to accelerate Rujo’s operations in Ghana’s Northern, Savannah, and Upper East Regions where it currently works with over 3,500 smallholder rice and soybean farmers, with special emphasis will be placed on empowering women and youth within these communities.
“Rujo is an example of a farmer-centric business using innovation and inclusion to address systemic challenges in agriculture,” said John Scicchitano, Partner at Pangea Africa. “We are proud to have worked alongside them and look forward to their next growth chapter.”
The development aligns with Ghana’s broader national goal of modernising agriculture and promoting resilient agribusinesses.
During a visit to Rujo on July 4, Dr. Peter Otokunor, Presidential Coordinator for Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), praised the company’s model and impact.
“Rujo is a pioneering example of an agri-SME that is driving agricultural transformation, turning Ghana into the breadbasket of West Africa,” Dr. Otokunor said.
