Small-holder vegetable farmers with irrigation infrastructure are expected to benefit from a new loan package from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC. Known as the Green-Grow Vegetable Farmers Lending Scheme, it will boost local vegetable production.
The new scheme is part of ADB’s commitment to financial inclusion for farmers and sustainable agribusiness development for agricultural transformation to strengthen Ghana’s domestic food production capacity.
According to the bank, the first phase of the initiative selected and disbursed allocated funds to qualified smallholder vegetable farmers with irrigation in the Greater Accra and Volta regions, with plans to expand to other parts of the country.
The scheme is designed to help farmers have access to affordable and timely financing to acquire essential farm inputs, improve productivity, and maximise returns.
The Managing Director of ADB PLC, Edward Ato Sarpong, while explaining the package, said, “Ghana’s agricultural transformation must be driven by deliberate investments that empower farmers to produce more, earn more, and contribute meaningfully to national development. Through the Green-Grow initiative, ADB is expanding its agricultural financing mandate. We believe that when farmers succeed, communities prosper, businesses grow, and the national economy becomes stronger.”
He noted that the support is a reflection of the ADB’s determination to move beyond traditional banking by developing innovative and commercially sustainable financing solutions that respond directly to the needs of agricultural producers.
Mr Sarpong also highlighted the importance of strengthening domestic food production and building a more resilient agricultural sector capable of responding to changing market demands.
Driving Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Growth
On his part, the Deputy Managing Director of ADB PLC in charge of Services (DMD Services), Prof. Ferdinand Makafui Ahiakpor, said the scheme is a strategic intervention that seeks to close the financing gap in Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
“Access to appropriate financing remains a critical factor in unlocking the full potential of Ghana’s agricultural sector. Green-Grow represents a practical approach to making agricultural credit more accessible, structured and responsive to the realities of smallholder vegetable farmers. Our objective is to support viable agricultural enterprises, improve productivity and create sustainable economic opportunities across farming communities,” Prof. Ahiakpor said.
Prof. Ahiakpor explained that the scheme’s structured lending approach would help align financing with farmers’ production activities while promoting sound credit management and long-term financial sustainability.
According to him, strengthening agricultural financing requires a balanced approach that supports farmers’ growth while maintaining responsible lending standards.
Supporting Farmers, Strengthening Local Production
Meanwhile, the General Manager in charge of Agribusiness at ADB PLC, Mr Kwame Asiedu Attrams, revealed the initiative followed preliminary field visits to vegetable farms in selected communities in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions.
The activities identified financing opportunities among irrigated vegetable producers, particularly farmers with established production experience, market linkages and strong repayment potential.
“Our engagements with farmers revealed enormous production potential that is being constrained by inadequate access to financing and the high cost of credit. Green-Grow has been carefully designed to address these challenges by providing structured credit support to eligible farmers,” Mr Attrams said.
“By connecting financing to viable production activities, we aim to help farmers improve yields, expand their operations and take advantage of emerging market opportunities,” he added.
Mr Attrams indicated that the pilot would initially concentrate on vegetable production, taking into consideration prevailing seasonal conditions and market demand.
To be eligible for the loan, several factors are considered, including access to irrigation, farming experience, group cohesion, and satisfactory credit history.
