HortiFRESH in West Africa

The HortiFresh project aimed to establish a sustainable and internationally competitive fruit and vegetable sector in West Africa. Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the program operated in Ghana and Ivory Coast to foster a commercial horticulture sector that contributed to food security and economic growth.

The ability of domestic and regional horticulture sectors to meet this increasing demand, substitute imports and connect to export markets is hampered by a lack of skills, the over-use of pesticides, food losses and lack of access to credit and commercial markets. At the same time, the sectors in Ghana and Ivory Coast show a strong growth potential and opportunity for private investments.

To establish competitive and professional horticulture markets that contributes to inclusive economic growth and has the capacity to continuously innovate in terms of products and services in Ghana and Ivory Coast, SNV implemented the HortiFRESH project, in a consortium together with Resilience B.V., Advance Consulting, SENSE and Wageningen University an Research CDI (lead implementer). The HortiFRESH project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana. The project aims to reach 15,000 farmers and increase their productivity by 20% until 2021.

The HortiFRESH project consists of two components: fruits and vegetables. The first focuses on the vegetable sector in Ghana. The second component is focused the fruit sector in Ghana, including regional supply chain dimensions in the surrounding countries. Our objectives include improving productivity in the vegetable sector; facilitating more efficient markets, including linking vegetable producers and other value chain operators with the Dutch private sector; improving the business climate and further professionalizing the value chain for vegetable production and consumption in Africa.

To achieve these goals, the project focused on three core strategic areas:

• Improved sector competitiveness:
  The project facilitated the adoption of high-quality seeds, modern irrigation techniques, and integrated pest management. These efforts resulted in higher yields and better compliance with international food safety standards.

• Strengthened inclusive business models:
  We supported partnerships between large-scale processors and smallholder farmers. This ensured reliable market access for growers and a steady supply of quality raw materials for the private sector.

• Fostered an enabling environment:
  The initiative worked closely with government bodies and industry associations to streamline regulations and promote policies that encouraged long-term investment in the horticulture value chain.
  
  

Project activities included

• Trade missions for trade promotion with the Dutch horticulture private sector, including input supply companies, importers, service provider and financial partners

• Business platforms, round tables, targeted B2B and matchmaking events for sector actors, as well as Horticulture Fairs & Exhibitions

• Technical assistance in agronomy and business management

• Support facilitating with 6 financing arrangements, including cluster funds, youth funds, and commercial loans

• High-level public-private dialogue for a competitive enabling environment

The project also aimed to increase food and nutrition security, and promote youth employment in the sector. All these activities don’t operate in isolation but reinforce each other, ensuring that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and that sector competitiveness can be increased in a sustainable and lasting way.

Impact and legacy

The HortiFresh program reached its milestones by stimulating private sector investment and introducing innovative financial products for agribusinesses. Through these interventions, the project ensured that the horticulture sectors in Ghana and Ivory Coast became more resilient, gender-inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. The established market linkages and technical advancements continue to serve as a foundation for future agricultural growth in the region.