Chilli pepper is more than a kitchen staple it is one of the most sought-after cash crops across West Africa. In Ghana, demand continues to rise locally and for export, creating opportunities for smallholder farmers to tap into its value chain. From nursery to packaging, every stage of chilli production holds income-generating potential especially when farmers are equipped with the right skills and market access.
Agrihouse Foundation, with support from the Mastercard Foundation under the YEFFA programme and AGRA, has commenced its highly anticipated regional bootcamp in Zabzugu, Northern Region ushering in a new phase of hands-on agribusiness empowerment for over 1,000 smallholder farmers, women, and youth.
Running from Tuesday, June 17 to Thursday, June 19, the training is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical, market-focused skills in chilli pepper cultivation, value addition, business management, and sustainable farming techniques. The Zabzugu phase of the Boost-to-Bloom Project builds on earlier successful engagements in Lingbinsi, Yapei, and Busunu in the Savannah Region, where over 1,000 participants were mobilised and trained.
In Zabzugu, the three-day bootcamp is being delivered through demonstration sites and participatory sessions covering key areas such as nursery establishment, land preparation, pest control, transplanting, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and value-added processing techniques like drying, grinding, and packaging. Participants are also learning to develop crop budgets and understand market dynamics to enhance profitability.
Speaking at the opening of the session, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, emphasised the transformative potential of the project.
“Zabzugu represents more than just another stop; it is a centre of promise and purpose. We are not simply training farmers we are building entrepreneurs who can feed, lead, and transform their communities,” she stated.
The implementation of the project in Zabzugu is part of a broader agenda to empower 20,000 youth particularly women and persons with disabilities across five northern regions by 2028. Through structured bootcamps, mentorship, and business incubation, the initiative seeks to create resilient agribusiness models that align with Ghana’s Feed Ghana strategy and ensure sustainable food systems.
The groundwork laid in Zabzugu follows earlier momentum in the Savannah Region, where nursery sites, demonstration plots, and farmlands have already been prepared in Lingbinsi, Yapei, and Busunu.
The community enthusiasm witnessed in Zabzugu mirrors that of previous stops, signalling strong grassroots support and readiness to embrace the cooperative model under the emerging ‘Bloomers’ network.
The bootcamp will culminate in a certification ceremony and the distribution of starter input packages to enable immediate planting. Participants will also receive ongoing technical support as they transition from training to full-scale production.
As the Boost-to-Bloom journey continues, Zabzugu stands tall ready to cultivate a new generation of agripreneurs committed to growth, innovation, and lasting impact.
