Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness-Technical Assistance Facility (CASA-TAF)

Overview

ACDEP is collaborating with TechnoServe to implement and manage a 2-year pilot project, “Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness-Technical Assistance Facility” (CASA-TAF). The project is being funded by the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAID). The project commenced in March 2023 and is scheduled to conclude in March 2025.

Project Objective

The primary objective of the CASA-TAF project is to enhance the business growth of selected agricultural aggregators by increasing their profits through greater volumes of produce aggregated for Farmerline’s offtake. The project aims to build the capacity of these businesses to operate effectively and potentially add value to the produce by March 31, 2025. Ultimately, the project benefits smallholder farmers through improved support from these aggregators.

Partnerships

TechnoServe is partnering with Farmerline, an agricultural technology service provider, to develop a network of small and medium aggregators in the soya, cashew, and maize value chains. These aggregators will offer end-to-end services, including input provision, advisory, and crop off-taking.

Implementation

In the pilot phase, 14 small and medium aggregators from the Northern, Upper West, North East, Bono, and Bono East regions have been selected. Farmerline will strengthen its relationship with these aggregators to adopt higher standards and improved business practices, incorporating technology, data analytics, and financing into their operations.

ACDEP’s Role

ACDEP is responsible for enhancing the capacity of participating aggregators as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within their respective commodity value chains. This includes providing training, coaching, mentoring, and business development services.

Achievements

CASA-TAF has made significant progress through the development and implementation of strategies and activities such as capacity assessments and targeted training programs. Notable achievements include:

• Training 11 aggregators (3 females, 8 males), who also serve as agro-input dealers, on input service delivery, agro-chemical sourcing, usage, and management.
• Training on the Farmerline business operation application and agricultural produce quality assurance.

These training sessions have equipped participants with valuable knowledge and skills, promoting responsible and sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring the well-being of farmers, consumers, and the environment.

For more information about the initiative, contact: Alhassan Sahanuni, CASA-TAF Project Manager, ACDEP, Ghana. Email: alhassan@acdep.org