Agrihouse Foundation has kicked off the first leg of its flagship Boost to Bloom training project in Lingbinsi, empowering a total of 367 individuals through a comprehensive three-day training in chili pepper cultivation. The initiative also marked the official formation of the Lingbinsi Bloomers Cooperative a strategic step in promoting inclusive, women-led agribusiness under the Mastercard Foundation’s Farm Project, with support from AGRA.
The training brought together village-based advisors, farm supervisors, extension officers, women, and youth from across the district. On Day 1, Agrihouse conducted a “Training of Trainers” session for the technical support teams—these included key field actors who will provide ongoing mentorship and technical guidance to ensure the success and sustainability of the Bloomers Cooperative.
Days 2 and 3 were dedicated to delivering hands-on training to the core group of 150 women and youth, focusing on the entire chili value chain from nursery establishment, land preparation, pest and disease control, to harvesting, post-harvest handling, and value addition such as drying, grinding, and packaging. These sessions were designed to equip participants not only with agronomic skills but also with the business acumen needed to transition into agro-processors and market players.
Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, described the training in Lingbinsi as a bold beginning to a national movement that centers women and youth leadership, local ownership, and agribusiness sustainability.
“We are excited to begin in Lingbinsi with 150 women and youth as our first batch of trainees under the Boost to Bloom Project,” Madam Akosa stated. “This initiative goes beyond farming. It is about equipping people with the knowledge, confidence, and support system to become agripreneurs and contribute meaningfully to their local economies. With the formation of the Lingbinsi Bloomers Cooperative, we are laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable impact.”
The training was facilitated by Agrihouse’s seasoned technical team, including Emmanuel Digooh, Aaron Asare, Maame Akua Donkor, Doris Ohene-Agyekum, and other resource persons. The team worked collaboratively to deliver practical, localized training that reflects the realities of smallholder farmers and emerging agripreneurs.
To support immediate implementation, the 150 women and youth core trainees received chili seeds, organic bloom fertilizers, and cutlasses part of a starter input package to help them begin cultivation right away. Agrihouse Foundation will also act as an offtaker, committing to purchase produce from the cooperative members, thereby ensuring guaranteed market access and income stability.
The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony. Participants expressed overwhelming gratitude and enthusiasm, describing the project as a game-changer for their personal livelihoods and the broader community. Many spoke of new hope, confidence, and the opportunity to build lasting agricultural enterprises through the cooperative model.
The success of the Lingbinsi phase is expected to serve as a model for replication in other districts as Agrihouse rolls out the Boost to Bloom Project in the coming weeks.
