Press Release • Accra, Ghana • 24 February 2026 • 3-minute read
AgriGRADE is expanding to Ghana, bringing its scalable and data-driven approach to agricultural cooperative development. With funding from the Kingdom of the Netherland’s embassy in Ghana, and with strong support from a local Advisory Committee – led by the Department of Cooperatives – AgriGRADE will begin its activities in Ghana with a mapping exercise of the farmer organization landscape in the horticulture and cocoa sectors.
Through an evidence-based understanding of the cooperative sector, the mapping will help create a shared reference point for government, development partners and investors. Over time, it will support more informed decision-making, targeted interventions and tracking of sector development.
“A resilient and investable agricultural sector in Ghana serves both Ghanaian farmers and Dutch partners; AgriGRADE is a practical data-driven approach toward that shared ambition,” says Rens Twijnstra, First Secretary of Economic Affairs at the Kingdom of the Netherland’s embassy in Ghana.
Cees van Rij and William Darlie.
Challenges facing farmer organizations
Many farmer organizations lack governance and business skills, which can lead to challenges accessing financial services and becoming commercially viable. Many also struggle with limited adoption of good agricultural practices and technology, low production rates, and the need to adapt to climate change and meet the international and European standards and certification schemes.
Existing support ecosystems are often fragmented, leading to duplication of efforts and inefficient use of resources.
To address these challenges, AgriGRADE’s multi-partner, data-driven and interoperable approach strengthens alignment and harmonization in agribusiness development. When farmer organizations are clearly assessed and segmented, they can be matched with the right support at the right time.
AgriGRADE helps:
- Farmer organizations better understand their strengths and areas for growth
- Make support tailored and efficient
- Use resources more effectively
- Make partnerships more transparent and impactful
Cees van Rij (left) and William Darlie (right) sign the MoU.
Building long-term capacity in Ghana
AgriGRADE’s ambition is focused on structural support that strengthens farmer organizations for the long run – not just short-term fixes.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana’s Department of Cooperatives (DoC) signals a shared commitment to strengthen cooperatives and professionalize farmer organizations across Ghana, starting with the cocoa and horticulture sectors.
“Cooperatives play a vital role in rural development but continue to face significant challenges. Their potential to transform farmer organizations and livelihoods is immense and calls for bold, systemic support. It is an honor to support the Government of Ghana, particularly the Department of Cooperatives, in strengthening this mandate and making cooperative development a long-term societal responsibility,” says Cees van Rij, CEO of AgriGRADE.
William Darlie, Acting Registrar of the DoC, signed the MoU and emphasized the importance of standardization and capacity building: “This will help build capacity by training cooperatives on the standardization of operations across the country.”
Representatives from Rikolto, the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Agriterra, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Cooperatives and the AgriGRADE team were also present at the MoU’s signing at the Agriterra offices in Accra, Ghana.
A new chapter for AgriGRADE
Since its launch in 2023, AgriGRADE has supported 28 farmer organizations in Kenya and 58 in Tanzania. In both countries, the system has already contributed to more transparent partnerships, better-targeted capacity-building efforts, and more efficient use of development resources.
For instance, Uruku Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society in Kenya recently launched their first-ever strategic plan nearly three decades after its founding.
The expansion to a third country highlights the strength, credibility and transferability of AgriGRADE’s model. With each new setting, AgriGRADE gains richer datasets, deeper insights and more opportunities for cross‑learning, strengthening its ability to deliver tailored, evidence-based support.
AgriGRADE is a consortium of partners who each bring distinct expertise and resources.
Contact our team for partnership opportunities in Ghana