For a better world
Credit for farmers means more food for the hungry!
Facts & Figures
support request
for additional investment
News and Updates
The first round of investment in the micro credit scheme for small farmers in Ashanti, Ghana was very successful indeed. 115 farmers participated. They produced 63,000 additional kilo’s of rice, beans and groundnuts and are paying back the entire credit (see details).
As this micro credit scheme is working very well, the farmer collective wants to achieve three further objectives by April 2021:
1. Increase the number of participating farmers from 115 to 200.
2. Train a number of farmers in the production of rice seeds.
3. Buy a threshing machine.
The attainment of these objectives requires an additional investment of 20,000 Euros.
We kindly request our donors to contribute to reaching these goals. Donate here.
In July 2020, REDCAPA provided credit for the equivalent of € 17,800. € 8,100 was spent on material inputs (seeds, fertilizer and agrochemicals) while € 9,700 were invested in additional support. While the crops unfortunately suffered drought, the credit still resulted in the production of an estimated 50,000 kg of rice, 8,000 kg of beans and 5,000 kg of groundnuts for a total of 63,000 kg. Measured against the investment in inputs, the production was almost 8 kg per Euro.
By March 4th, € 15,000 was paid back by the farmers. (It is expected that soon almost 100% will be refunded.) At this moment however, the sunk costs of the scheme constitute € 2,800, which would implicate that some 22 kg are produced per Euro.
In October, the World Food Programme received the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
In April, WFP had inspired us to start a microcredit project for small farmers in Ghana. In 1.5 months we received generous donations and invested Euro 25K in the production of rice, beans and peas. All 115 participating farmers planted and -thanks to the rains- all crops are standing tall (Nov 16th).
By December, we hope to have added 200,000 kilo’s of food. We hope to go for expansion and institutionalization of this international cooperation when the next sowing season is due early 2021.
Food is likely to become scarce and expensive, leading to deep suffering and death of the poorest.
Can we do something? … YES, WE CAN!
featured projects
Increase food production
Before building the U$ 200,000 Auntie Riek Clinic in the Issahkrom village (12 km North East of Drobonso) and donating it to the Ghana Health Service, REDCAPA received permission from the communities, their chiefs and the late Acting Paramount Chief of Kumawu Traditional Council.
We came to know the farmers around the clinic: most of them small holders; some subsistence farmers; landless producers too. But, as Adjei points out: ‘Most farmers have no access to additional credit at a reasonable interest rate, and can therefore not invest in seeds, fertilizer and other means.’
With € 200 of credit per producer, they can produce a lot of food in just 3 to 5 months, depending on the crop: 1,700 kg of maize; 2,600 kgs of rice or 900 kg of cowpeas additionally per farmer.
We also request and suggest to the farmers to plant leafy vegetables for their own consumption in order to sustain the vitamin contents of their diets and especially that of their small children … and if possible add chicken to a good meal now and then.
Credit for food and black lives
REDCAPA, a charitable foundation certified by the Dutch government (‘ANBI’), has a 33 year record of working in developing countries. In Ghana we cooperate since 7 years with the small farmer communities around Issahkrom and Drobonso, with the chieftaincies, the district authorities, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Ghana Health Service. We continue to support the Auntie Riek Clinic that has an estimated catchment population of well over 10,000.
Supported by MoFA specialist Adjei and long time aid Sarfo Adu, we provide as many farmers as we can with credit in the form of seeds, fertilizer, agrochemicals (through the MoFA) and cash through accounts at the Drobonso subsidiary of the Kumawuan Rural Bank Ltd. We do this against a written promise to repay or the delivery of produce to Drobonso. And then the credit revolves next year and again and again.
Can it be done? UNITED WE CAN!
The rainy season has just started in the area (early June). Maize, rice and cowpeas can be sown until the end of July and will render produce in October (Maize and Comwpeas) and Nov/December (Rice).
Our objective is to invest € 20,000 by half July, which allows us to assist at least 100 farmers; and more if there is additional demand by bona fide local farmers and we exceed our funding target. With the additional harvest enabled by the credit program an estimated 7,000 additional people can be fed for at least 2 to 3 months. Please support the credit program by donating to NL 39 INGB 000 290 41 77 in the name of Stichting REDCAPA Internationaal, Oegstgeest, the Netherlands. (Please mention “donation towards credit program” in the remarks field.)
Thank you! Every € 200 means credit and income for at least one farmer and food for 70 people!