More than one thousand women in Zabzugu have begun hands-on training in chilli pepper production as part of the Agrihouse Foundation’s Boost-to-Bloom initiative, an inclusive agribusiness project that is reshaping the economic landscape for women and youth across Northern Ghana.
In Zabzugu, the sound of hope is no longer a whisper, it’s the rustle of chilli seedlings being planted by over a hundred women determined to change their story through agribusiness.
Under the Boost-to-Bloom Project spearheaded by Agrihouse Foundation, the women have taken their first bold steps into the world of chilli production. The practical training, led by agronomist Aaron Amartey isn’t just about farming; it’s about rewriting the economic future of women in the community.
On the demonstration field, participants immersed themselves in the full cycle of chilli pepper cultivation: from nursery preparation and transplanting to pest and disease control, harvesting, drying, and even value addition.
Speaking during the training, technical facilitator and Agronomist Aaron Amartey stressed the importance of adopting proper agronomic practices for high yields:
“It’s not just about planting pepper,it’s about understanding the soil, applying the right spacing, and managing pests organically. These small details determine whether your farm thrives or fails,” he said.
He further highlighted the commercial viability of chilli pepper, pointing out the long-term benefits for rural farmers.
“Chilli pepper has both local and international market value. When grown properly, it can generate continuous income. Agrihouse and its partners will serve as offtakers, so you are not just producing, you are producing for a guaranteed market,” he stated.
Echoing this focus on sustainability, Regional Coordinator for Agrihouse Foundation, Fiifi Amoah, encouraged the women to work in groups to boost output and maximize market opportunities:
“We encourage group farming because when you combine your efforts, you can produce in large volumes. This way, you won’t only meet market demands, but also strengthen your bargaining power as a cooperative,” he said.
The women were subsequently organized into functional groups under the “Bloomers” cooperative framework, a vital part of the project’s sustainability model. Through mentorship, shared resources, and off-taking support, the cooperative ensures the women are not left to farm in isolation, but supported in a network of shared growth and accountability.
This model encourages knowledge-sharing, cooperative growth, and peer accountability while creating pathways to sustainable income generation.
Beyond the field, the women were introduced to market strategies: understanding aggregation, meeting quality standards, and exploring processing opportunities like drying and packaging chilli into powder, a move that opens doors to new income streams.
To support their start, the participants received starter packs, including chilli seeds, organic bloom inputs, and essential tools.
Zabzugu’s chilli training is part of a wider wave sweeping Northern Ghana. Through Boost-to-Bloom, Agrihouse Foundation, with support from AGRA and Mastercard Foundation under the YEFFA Programme, aims to empower 20,000 women and youth by 2028, transforming agriculture into a platform for economic freedom and local leadership.
From Lingbinsi, Yapei, Busunu, and now Zabzugu, the Boost-to-Bloom project continues to ignite the potential of women and youth in agriculture. As it expands across the Northern Region, the initiative is not only building farming capacity but planting the seeds of enterprise, resilience, and leadership among rural women.
