Rujo Agri-Trade Ltd., an agribusiness based in Northern Ghana, has secured growth funding from RDF Ghana to strengthen its operations and expand its reach across rural communities. The investment aims to scale up Rujo’s rice and soybean value chains, improve smallholder productivity, and promote sustainable farming practices. This milestone highlights the company’s role in supporting thousands of underserved farmers—particularly women and youth—in some of Ghana’s most vulnerable regions.
A Farmer-Centric Business Model with Regional Reach
Founded in 2014, Rujo Agri-Trade works directly with more than 3,000 farmers across the Northern, Savannah, and Upper East regions. The company’s core service model involves bundled agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, ploughing, and harvesting, all delivered through an in-kind repayment approach. These services are facilitated by a grassroots network of Farm Enterprise Advisors and Community Champions who provide technical support and guidance at the local level.
Expanding Climate-Smart Practices and Sustainability Goals
The newly secured funding will support Rujo’s efforts to expand climate-smart agriculture practices, particularly in post-harvest management and crop diversification. The company is piloting initiatives such as seed multiplication and irrigated vegetable farming to diversify income streams and build resilience against climate shocks. Plans include organic rice cultivation and conservation agriculture, aligning with broader environmental sustainability goals in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Scaling Maraba Foods and Strengthening Supply Chains
Operating under its flagship brand, Maraba Foods, Rujo supplies grains to institutional buyers, including school feeding programs, millers, and international markets. With the added investment, the company aims to increase processing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses through improved technologies. This expansion is expected to boost incomes for partner farmers while ensuring a consistent, high-quality supply for buyers across multiple channels.
Partnerships Fueling Rural Transformation
The investment was facilitated by Pangea Africa, a firm committed to supporting inclusive and scalable businesses in Africa. “Rujo is an example of a farmer-centric business using innovation and inclusion to address systemic challenges in agriculture,” said John Scicchitano, Partner at Pangea Africa. RDF Ghana’s backing signals growing institutional confidence in agribusinesses that integrate climate resilience and community impact into their growth strategy.
Championing Sustainable Agriculture and Inclusive Growth
Rujo’s approach stands out for its emphasis on empowering rural populations, especially women and young people, through access to inputs, training, and markets. CEO Joshua Toatoba described the funding as a vote of confidence in Rujo’s mission to transform rural livelihoods sustainably. “This funding is a strong endorsement of Rujo’s model and our deep-rooted commitment to improving farmer livelihoods through sustainable practices,” Toatoba said.
Agribusiness as a Catalyst for Food System Transformation
As Ghana seeks to strengthen its food systems and boost national food security, agribusinesses like Rujo are increasingly seen as key players. By leveraging investment to build resilient supply chains and climate-adaptive farming practices, Rujo exemplifies how private enterprise can drive structural change in agriculture. This model offers a promising path forward for inclusive rural development and long-term food sovereignty in Ghana and beyond.
With strategic funding now in place, Rujo Agri-Trade is poised to deepen its impact in Northern Ghana and set a benchmark for sustainable agribusiness in West Africa. Through its blend of innovation, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship, the company is helping redefine how smallholder farmers participate in and benefit from modern agriculture. As investments in rural economies grow, Rujo’s example offers a blueprint for aligning profit with purpose in the agricultural value chain.
Source: Techlabari