Meet Ama Darko
Ama Darko, 45, farms in the Ejura-Sekyedumase district of the Ashanti Region. For over 20 years, she cultivated maize and cowpea on her 2-acre plot, barely producing enough to feed her family of six.
"I knew the land could give more," Ama recalls. "But I didn't have the knowledge or resources to change."
The Turning Point
In 2024, Ama joined a farmer field school organized by ARC Ltd as part of a productivity enhancement programme. Over the course of a growing season, she learned:
- Proper land preparation and planting techniques
- Row planting for optimal plant population
- Integrated soil fertility management
- Post-harvest handling to reduce losses
Implementing Change
With a small input loan through her farmer group, Ama purchased certified hybrid maize seed and compound fertilizer for the first time. She followed the recommended practices closely.
"The other farmers watched me," she laughs. "They thought I was taking too much risk with the new methods."
The Results
Ama's yield that season was 4.2 MT/ha—more than double her previous average. After repaying her input loan and keeping grain for household consumption, she had a surplus of 1.5 MT to sell.
Looking Forward
Today, Ama has expanded to 5 acres and serves as a lead farmer, training other women in her community. She has diversified into vegetable production and recently purchased a motorized sprayer.
"Farming can be a business," she says confidently. "Now my children see a future in agriculture."
Impact
Ama's story represents the potential that exists across rural Ghana. With the right support—knowledge, inputs, and market access—smallholder farmers can transform their livelihoods and contribute to national food security.