Adaklu District – In a significant step toward sustainable agricultural transformation in the Volta Region, Puzuri Agro Company Limited, a subsidiary of Puzuri Group of Companies Limited has officially launched its Soya Outgrower Scheme with a spirited community engagement and the first Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training session in Segbale, Adaklu Sofa, Adaklu Hlihave, Blido Kope, in Adaklu Ahunda Boso. The activity marks the beginning of a new season of productivity and partnership between Puzuri and over 500 selected smallholder farmers (SHFs) from these communities.
The event kicked off with an open-air orientation session led by the Puzuri project team. Community elders, youth representatives, and women leaders were in attendance. The session introduced farmers to the full scope of the outgrower scheme, including the distribution of certified soya seeds, pre-emergence herbicides, ploughing support, and access to extension services throughout the season.
In addition to the technical training on sustainable and climate-smart cultivation methods, a major highlight of the engagement was the contract briefing. Farmers were guided through the contents of the agreement, which outlines mutual obligations such as timely planting, input usage, produce recovery, and post-harvest handling protocols. Puzuri’s innovative model ensures that the farmers retain ownership of their crops while benefiting from a ready market and technical support.
Beyond individual gains, the project is designed to deliver broader socio-economic benefits. Participating farmers will not only increase their household incomes but also contribute to community-wide food security and national production targets. With an expected average yield of 700kg per acre and a fair market recovery system, this initiative is projected to inject vibrancy into the rural economy of Segbale and surrounding areas.
Importantly, the Soya Outgrower Scheme is rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It directly contributes to:
- SDG 1 (No Poverty) – by increasing rural incomes through agriculture;
- SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) – by boosting food availability and nutritional diversity;
- SDG 13 (Climate Action) – by promoting climate-smart agricultural techniques and reducing unsustainable farming practices.
Speaking on behalf of the community, one of the elders, Mr. Yao Kumah E., expressed profound appreciation:
“This is not just about seeds and fertilizer – it’s about hope, it’s about empowerment. We thank Puzuri for remembering Segbale and Adaklu as a whole.”
As the season unfolds, Segbale is expected to serve as a model for effective private-community partnership in agriculture. The success here will guide implementation across communities interested in the scheme, reinforcing Puzuri’s commitment to transforming agriculture in Ghana from the ground up.