In the heart of Sissala Districts in Ghana, a transformative movement is taking root, driven by the power of youth empowerment in agriculture. At the forefront of this revolution stands Danladi Nankene, a dynamic 24-year-old community coach and aggregator, whose extraordinary transition from farmer to agribusiness leader serves as a remarkable testament to 2SCALE’s vision of cultivating success through community coaching.
2SCALE recognizes the vital role of community coaches in strengthening agribusiness clusters (ABCs). These dynamic coaches are vital links, bridging the gap between farmers, Business Support Service (BSS) providers, and agribusinesses. By leveraging the community coaching model, BSS coaches found a trusted ally in community coaches.
In Ghana, the journey to empowerment began in 2022, with comprehensive training intended to equip community coaches like Danladi with the knowledge and skills to create a lasting impact. Facilitated by the 2SCALE-KEDAN partnership, the beneficiaries of this initiative were twofold: 24 selected community coaches, including 10 women and 14 men, and the farmers they serve in their clusters.
Through the training, the community coaches learned about the Agri-business Cluster (ABC) approach, which emphasizes the importance of fostering strong relationships among actors at the cluster level. They also received in-depth insights into the Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) curriculum, which opened their eyes to the vast potential in the maize, sorghum, rice, poultry, and soybean value chains.
The training was aimed at empowering them, under the guidance of BSS coaches, to facilitate business development sessions, oversee post-harvest activities, offer advisory and brokerage services, and other technical expertise within their respective clusters. Step-down training further cascaded the knowledge down to grassroots actors, empowering them to thrive in their agricultural pursuits.
In 2023, there has been a continuous drive to build the capacity of community coaches, honing their expertise in basic agronomy, negotiations, financial literacy, and cluster cooperation. Notably, the youth among these community coaches have stood out in their performance, showcasing exceptional dedication and impact in their coaching roles.
A journey of growth: From farmer to aggregator and community coach
For Danladi Nankene, this transformation was nothing short of extraordinary. Once just a farmer and spray gang member, he has become a community coach and aggregator in the Dolibizon cluster and other operational communities of the 2SCALE-KEDAN partnership.
"I am super interested in this venture due to the opportunity to work with farmers and other people from all walks of life. This translates into my networks and income from the business, supporting my farm work and household."
Danladi shares with excitement.
As a community coach, Danladi not only provides valuable support to farmers but has also ventured into aggregation, supplying maize to KEDAN Company Limited and other major buyers. Armed with his smartphone, he skillfully utilizes social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to advertise his business, attracting potential clients from all corners of the country.
Through unwavering dedication, Danladi mobilized an impressive 25 trucks of maize, amounting to 25 metric tonnes, between November 2022 and June 2023. This not only benefited the farmers by providing them with market access at competitive prices but also brought financial stability to Danladi's life. His commission-based earnings of GHS 125,000 (USD 10,822) intermittently over the period empowered him to pursue his dream of studying Agribusiness.