What changes when the buyer stays

Ejura–Sekyedumase, Ashanti Region

A price farmers know before they harvest

Before we opened a buying point here, maize farmers had to sell to whoever turned up at the farm gate in the week they needed cash — usually late in the season, and usually for whatever was offered. Now we tell farmers our buying price before harvest even starts. That one change lets them plan ahead: hold their grain for better quality, clean it properly before selling, and get paid more for the extra effort.

Higher price paid to farmers

41%Higher price paid to farmers

Farmers now selling here

310Farmers now selling here

Nkoranza South, Bono East Region

Paid in November, still supplying in March

One of the oldest problems for Ghanaian grain farmers: sell at harvest, when the price is at its lowest, because that's when you need the cash — then watch the price climb for months afterwards, with none of that extra money reaching the farmer. We break that pattern by storing grain properly so it doesn't spoil. Farmers still get paid straight away at harvest, in November. We then keep the grain safe and sell it on to millers as late as March, at a price agreed in advance, so nobody loses out.

Tonnes kept in safe storage

4,100tTonnes kept in safe storage

Deliveries missed or short

0Deliveries missed or short