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Stronger cooperatives. Smarter farming. Thriving tomorrow.
Pepper farming in the Ashanti and Volta regions of Ghana is more than a crop. It is school fees paid on time, food on the table, and hope for the next generation. Yet despite their hard work and dedication, many smallholder farmers have been operating without the systems, structures, and reliable market access needed to truly thrive and turn their efforts into lasting prosperity.
That is where the Pepper Plus Project begins, not with quick fixes, but by strengthening farmer organizations from within, recognizing that resilient farmer organisations are the true cornerstone of local prosperity.
The Pepper Plus Project, brings together complementary expertise to strengthen Ghana’s pepper value chain. Agriterra empowers farmer organisations through governance and business development support. Holland GreenTech builds climate-smart production capacity and trains lead farmers. AkoFresh reduces post-harvest losses with solar-powered cold storage, while Ghana Green Label supports certification and access to premium markets.
Together, we are sowing the seeds of change for stronger cooperatives, higher incomes, and lasting local prosperity.
When Agriterra and partners began, we visited 10 pepper farmer groups to listen and learn about their membership, leadership, challenges, and dreams. Most were informal, but five stood out, committed, ready to grow collectively, and poised for change together, representing nearly 2,000 farmers and their families.
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A turning point in leadership
In October 2025, 19 cooperative leaders attended Agriterra’s My.COOP governance training, where they gained a clear understanding of cooperative principles, roles, and responsibilities. Boards and management clarified their duties, decision-making became more democratic, and accountability shifted from theory to practice, with each cooperative developing a practical governance action plan outlining steps, responsibilities, and timelines.
“We used to meet, but we didn’t always know what good governance truly meant. Now we understand our roles, and our members can trust the system.” Shared by Vida, cooperative organizer of Ejura Pepper Cooperative Farmers Marketing Society.
By the end of the training, each cooperative had designed its own governance action plan, not imposed from outside, leading to clearer meetings, better-defined roles, more engaged members asking and receiving answers, and a growing sense of trust.
Farming as a business
We also introduced record-keeping systems that turn data into decisions. Twenty cooperative executives were trained to:
- Track production costs
- Monitor income and expenses
- Use simple daily record tools
- Plan with clear financial goals
For many leaders, it was the first time they clearly saw their true margins. When farmers understand their numbers, they make better decisions.
“For Asante Mampong Vegetable Growers Cooperative Farmers and Marketing Society, we have introduced two structured tools. One is the farm record-keeping tool; for the first time, members can now track production costs, yields, monitor their expenditure, and income. This simple step will improve member financial management and provide data-driven information for the cooperative to better facilitate access to finance and market opportunities for members.
Secondly, we have developed member dues and share purchase record books to facilitate transparency regarding members' financial obligations to the cooperative and strengthen internal trust.”  Shared by cooperative executive member Daniel
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Why this matters for long-term impact
The Pepper Plus Project follows a clear pathway to income growth:
- Stronger cooperatives → better governance and transparency
- Better data and planning → informed business decisions
- Climate-smart production → higher yields and lower losses
- Cold storage and aggregation → reduced post-harvest loss
- Structured market access → premium pricing
Together, these steps are designed to deliver a 40% income increase for 2,000 farmers by 2028.
What comes next?
In partnership with Holland GreenTech and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the next phase is underway: a locally adapted pepper production guide has been developed, lead farmers selected, and soon demonstration fields and Farmer Field Days will help up to 2,000 farmers adopt climate-smart practices for year-round production.
The next phase will introduce youth in agribusiness training, demonstration plots with technical coaching, solar-powered cold storage facilities, aggregation systems to reduce post-harvest losses, and structured market linkages with certification support. Step by step, it will move from organization to production to premium markets.
Pepper Plus is more than a project. It is farmers building stronger businesses, leadership growing in confidence, and communities preparing for a thriving tomorrow.
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