Lasting roots: ADVANCE II and the outgrower business model in Ghana

The Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) II Activity was implemented from 2014 to 2020. The programme aimed to improve the competitiveness of maize, rice and soybean value chains in Ghana, specifically targeting smallholder farmers (SHFs) in northern Ghana. This paper assesses the long-term impacts of the programme, specifically examining the sustainability and scalability of systemic changes introduced by the Outgrower Business (OB) model. 

The study took place three years after the programme closed and evaluates the OB model's effectiveness in providing smallholder farmers with better access to agricultural inputs, mechanisation, and market linkages. Three out of four systemic changes had endured and thrived, and one did not achieve the desired changes.

• Systemic change #1: there is better and more timely access to agricultural inputs and services targeting smallholder farmers in northern Ghana.
• Systemic change #2: input companies and dealers see a profitable business case for promoting quality inputs to remote farmers in northern Ghana.
• Systemic change #3: buyers and processors consider northern Ghana an attractive and consistent source of high-quality cereals.
• Systemic change #4: the barriers to agricultural financing have not been resolved.

The study highlights the importance of trust, the effectiveness of enhancing business skills, and the need for careful scaffolding of activities to achieve sustainable, systemic market changes.

Intervention description

The programme worked with 193 OBs by its conclusion, which actively provided services to SHFs, including information and training on improved agricultural practices, access to quality inputs, and mechanisation services.

For example, by the end of ADVANCE II, 91 per cent of OB farmers were using some combination of high-performing seeds, fertilisers, weedicides and pesticides, resulting in significant improvements in their productivity and profitability.

Evidence methodology

The evaluation collected data from key informant interviews (KII), farmer surveys, and focus group discussions (FGD). Data collection involved 138 KIIs with market actors, 161 farmer surveys, and a validation workshop.

The study leveraged the Disrupting System Dynamics (DSD) framework to analyse systemic changes in the agricultural market system and the sustainability of those changes post-intervention.