European Union Supports Comprehensive Farmer in Enhancing Agritech Infrastructure in Northern Ghana
The European Union (EU) has made a strategic investment of €2.2 million ($2.5 million) in the Ghanaian agritech startup, Complete Farmer. This funding, part of the EU-supported AgriFI initiative managed by EDFI Management Company, aims to improve market access and productivity for smallholder farmers in Ghana [1][2][3].
The investment aligns with Complete Farmer's digital agriculture marketplace platform, which connects farmers with financing, inputs, and markets, enhancing their efficiency and income. Rodrigo Madrazo García de Lomana, CEO of EDFI Management Company, stated that the investment aligns with the organization's goal of advancing sustainable agricultural value chains [1].
The broader impact and goal of this investment include boosting agricultural productivity and sustainability by leveraging technology to address traditional market and supply chain challenges faced by smallholder farmers. The investment also catalyzes economic momentum in Ghana's agritech sector, contributing to technological innovation and digital transformation in agriculture [1][2][3].
Complete Farmer is integrating digital innovation with physical infrastructure for its operations. The new investment is targeted towards rural expansion in northern Ghana, with plans to build six rural fulfillment centers across five northern regions. These centers will serve as essential logistics hubs for storage, quality assurance, and post-harvest handling [1].
The initiative is projected to impact over 5,000 smallholder farmers initially, with a long-term target of reaching 50,000 farmers by 2028. The investment supports Complete Farmer's expansion in line with the AgriFI Ghana Country Window's goal of promoting inclusive rural development [1].
The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, emphasized that the investment uplifts entire farming communities by facilitating better access to quality inputs, agronomic guidance, and dependable market connections [1]. Complete Farmer's operations in Ghana are designed to deliver direct value to smallholder farmers, fostering inclusive growth in the agricultural value chain and improving livelihoods for rural communities.
In addition to the digital platform, Complete Farmer runs services like CF Grower, providing smallholder farmers with data-driven farming guidelines and access to input suppliers, and CF Buyer, connecting global commodity buyers to traceable, export-quality produce [1]. The latest funding from the EU-backed AgriFI initiative complements Complete Farmer's growth trajectory, resulting in more efficient operations, increased crop yields, and improved incomes for farmers across northern Ghana.
The investment in Complete Farmer is part of a strategic effort to leverage EU funds to scale agritech solutions that drive economic development, technology adoption, and sustainability in African agriculture.
References: [1] Complete Farmer. (2023). Press Release: EU-Backed Investment Boosts Digital Agriculture in Ghana, Empowering Smallholder Farmers. Retrieved from https://www.completefarmer.com/eu-backed-investment-boosts-digital-agriculture-in-ghana-empowering-smallholder-farmers/ [2] AgriFI Initiative. (n.d.). AgriFI Ghana Country Window. Retrieved from https://agrifi.africa/countries/ghana/ [3] EDFI Management Company. (n.d.). Complete Farmer. Retrieved from https://edfi.org/portfolio/complete-farmer/
The strategic investment from the European Union (EU) in Complete Farmer underscores their objective of advancing business (operations) and technology (digital innovation) within Africa's agriculture sector. Rodrigo Madrazo García de Lomana, CEO of EDFI Management Company, further stated that this investment corresponds with the organization's goal of promoting financial (investment) and sustainable (value chain) agricultural growth.
