SIJ Limited Soybeans Project

Empowering Women Farmers in Northern Ghana

About the Project

SIJ Limited has been supporting women farmers in the Wa Metropolis and Wa East Districts for the 2024 and 2025 farming seasons. Over the years, the project has focused on improving soybean production and providing reliable market access for women in the communities of Dondoli, Kampaha, Busa, Bulenga, and Chaggu.

2024–2025 Farming Seasons: What We’ve Been Doing

• Beneficiaries: 25 women farmers supported each year.
• Farm Size: Each woman cultivates 5 acres of soybeans.
• Ploughing Services: SIJ Limited provides ploughing for all fields at the start of the season.
• Monitoring: Continuous oversight by field officers from planting to harvest to ensure good crop management.
• Harvest & Payment:
  • Equivalent of the ploughing cost is deducted from the harvest.
  • Remaining produce is purchased with cash by SIJ Limited.
• Market Linkages: Farmers receive predictable income from sales.

Note: During these years, the project did not provide sustainable farming education, organic seeds, fertilizer, or post-harvest training.

Introducing the Green & Sustainable Soybeans Project

Building on the success of previous years, SIJ Limited is launching an expanded green and sustainable soybean initiative for women farmers. This next phase introduces environmentally responsible practices and enhances productivity across the same five communities.

Key Features of the New Project:

• Farm Size: Increasing to 7 acres per farmer.
• Green and Sustainable Farming:
  • Comprehensive training in organic and environmentally friendly farming practices.
  • Hands-on learning throughout the planting, growing, and harvesting processes.
• Organic Inputs:
  • Provision of organic seeds and organic fertilizers.
  • Use of sustainable pest management techniques.
• Post-Harvest Management:
  • Education on drying, storage, and basic value-addition to minimize losses and improve product quality.
• Monitoring & Support:
  • Continuous technical support from field officers and agronomists to ensure proper implementation of sustainable methods.
• Market Access & Cost-Recovery:
  • Ploughing costs will still be accounted for in-kind from the harvest.
  • Remaining produce will be purchased, supporting predictable income for women farmers.

Goal: To transition women farmers to fully organic soybean production, increase farm productivity, and empower women with knowledge, skills, and sustainable income opportunities.