East-West Seed-Knowledge Transfer’s Field Day & Learning Farm Launch in Duayaw Nkwanta

On Tuesday, July 22nd, the Ghana Netherlands Business & Culture Council (GNBCC), alongside the Horticulture Business Platform (HBP), proudly participated in a milestone event hosted by member company East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT). On behalf of both GNBCC and the HBP, staff member Benjamin participated in the event together with government stakeholders, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), traditional leaders, and farmers in Duayaw Nkwanta, Ahafo Region, for the official launch of EWS-KT’s second learning farm in Ghana and a vibrant Farmers’ Field Day.

In his welcome remarks, Kwadwo Boakye Donkor, Project Lead for EWS-KT, emphasized the spirit of collaboration driving the day’s event under the theme “Empowering Farmers to Practice Vegetable Farming as a Profitable Business.” He encouraged participants to see vegetable farming not merely as a tradition, but as a smart, scalable business opportunity. “Let us carry forward the understanding that what we plant today goes far beyond crops—we are sowing potential, progress, and prosperity,” he stated.

Mr. Boakye also offered a compelling narrative of EWS-KT’s mission and achievements. Inspired by the late Simon Nanne Groot, founder of East-West Seed and 2019 World Food Prize laureate, EWS-KT was established to bridge the gap between quality seed access and technical know-how. With nearly 950,000 farmers trained globally since 2021, the foundation is making strides in promoting climate-smart, resilient agricultural practices. Ghana’s program, which began in 2023, has already reached over 10,000 farmers and set up 356 demonstration farms across 14 districts, with strong youth and female participation.

Representing the Netherlands Embassy, Marian Armoo, Agricultural Officer, highlighted how this new learning center continues a long-standing Dutch-Ghanaian collaboration in agriculture. She cited past initiatives like GhanaVeg, Hortifresh, and the Ghana Green Label, which laid the foundation for today’s progress. The embassy’s role in co-funding the EWS-KT project reinforces its belief in inclusive agricultural transformation.

Ms. Armoo praised smallholder farmers as “the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural sector,” and described improved vegetable seeds as more than inputs, calling them “instruments of empowerment, innovation, and sustainability.” She described the learning farm as a space “where tradition meets innovation, where farmers can explore new techniques, adapt to a changing climate and strengthen their links to markets.”

In a strong show of national endorsement, the Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) affirmed the initiative’s alignment with the government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda. He noted that vegetable farming has been identified as a high-potential area under the agenda, especially in terms of import substitution, youth employment, and value chain development.

The MoFA representative lauded the project’s structure, especially its emphasis on demonstration farms and peer learning, as a model worth replicating to modernize and expand Ghana’s vegetable production capacity.

Justice Korang, a farmer who benefitted from the EWS-KT training, delivered a powerful testimony. He shared how a 250m² cucumber plot planted with just 30g of improved East-West Seed varieties yielded 1,152kg, fetching over GHS 5,000 in profit. His story underlined the transformative power of quality seeds and good agronomic practices. “My life has changed,” he said. “And I encourage my fellow farmers to get on board.”

A solemn moment was observed to honor Simon Nanne Groot, the visionary behind East-West Seed, who passed away earlier this month. Attendees signed a book of condolence to commemorate his enduring contribution to global food security and smallholder farmer empowerment.

Following this poignant tribute, the much-anticipated sod-cutting ceremony for the new EWS-KT learning farm took place, led by traditional rulers (Nananom), with delegates from the Netherlands Embassy, MoFA, East-West Seed, and EWS-KT partners joining to collectively break ground. The one-acre learning farm is a sight to behold, immediately greeting visitors with brightly colored marigold petals. Intriguingly, these aren’t just for aesthetics but serve as a natural insect repellent. A comprehensive tour, led by experts, began at the nursery, emphasizing the principle of “healthy seeds, healthy seedlings, healthy plants”, and continued through the learning farm, where participants were introduced to a variety of vegetable crops and modern techniques that significantly outperform traditional methods. Crops like cabbage, okra, peppers, garden eggs, and cucumbers were seen in full, healthy bloom, offering a tangible testament to the lucrativeness and fulfillment that modern farming practices can bring.

The field tour was followed by insightful breakout sessions, providing farmers and farmer groups with a unique opportunity to directly engage with EWS-KT partners, including agrochemical and input providers, and financial institutions. These sessions explored ways to make farming even more attractive and fulfilling for smallholder farmers.

The presence of both GNBCC and the HBP at the event reaffirms a shared commitment to fostering partnerships that drive innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth in Ghana’s horticulture sector. For HBP, whose mandate is to strengthen the ecosystem through knowledge exchange, market access, and advocacy, the event showcased the transformative power of collaboration. With the Netherlands playing an instrumental role in advancing agricultural development in Ghana, GNBCC remains proud to support impactful, member-led initiatives like those of East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer. As one participant aptly put it, “What we are doing here is planting not just seeds—but futures.”