Abdul Salam Dauda, 35, a farmer from Zanindo, a community in the Gushiegu District of Northern Ghana, has been farming for over two decades without much success.
Before joining the Savannah Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (SADEP), financed by the African Development Bank Group in 2022, he cultivated about five acres of maize using local seeds saved from previous harvests. With no fertilizer and declining soil fertility, his yields were dismal--less than 200 kg per acre. The income barely sustained his large family, but Abdul Salam persevered, holding on to hope that one day things would be better.
"Every harvest, I knew I could do better if I had the right inputs and support. I just needed an opportunity," he said.
That opportunity came when Abdul Salam met Benedicta Kale, a commercial farmer and Ghana Air Force officer who had established Benic Commodities. Through her, he joined SADEP as an out-grower. What followed was a transformation so dramatic that Abdul Salam himself describes his meeting with Benedicta as "God-sent."
In 2022, Abdul Salam doubled his farm size to 10 acres. With fertilizers and extension support from the commercial farmer, his maize yield more than tripled to around 0.6 tonnes per acre. At a market price of about 300 Cedis per 100 kg bag, his income reached approximately 18,000 Cedis -- money that opened his eyes to farming's true potential. For the first time, he could meet all his family's financial obligations and save for the future.
Fuelled by this success, Abdul Salam expanded his farm to 50 acres in 2023. Benedicta increased her support to include mechanization services for land preparation, improved maize seeds (Pioneer and Pan varieties), fertilizers, extension services, and market linkage. The results surpassed expectations.
"Coming across Benedicta was God-sent. My association with the commercial farmer has launched me on a path of prosperity from farming that I could not have imagined."
By early 2024, Abdul Salam had bought a second-hand tractor. No longer just a farmer, he began providing mechanization services to other farmers while expanding his own operation to 100 acres, all devoted to maize. The commercial farmer continued supporting him with improved seeds, fertilizer, and extension services.
From five acres to 100 acres. From 200 kg per acre to 600 kg per acre. In just three years.
Then came 2024's prolonged drought. From June to mid-August, the rains failed. Crops withered across the region. Abdul Salam incurred significant losses from his 100-acre farm. For many, such a setback after rapid success would be crushing. But Abdul Salam's response revealed his true character.
"2024 was not a year to remember, but I am looking forward to the 2025 farming season with great hope and expectation. I believe I can bounce back and recover all that I lost."
This resilience reflects both his personal strength and the solid foundation that SADEP helped him build. With his tractor, knowledge, network, and continued support from Benic Commodities, Abdul Salam has the means to recover and thrive again.
Abdul Salam's success has positioned him as a leader among smallholder out-growers working with Benic Commodities. He now heads Mausensang, a farmers' group of about 80 members organized into 15-member subgroups in his community.
But his vision extends beyond his current network. Having experienced firsthand how SADEP transformed his farming enterprise, he is determined to share this opportunity with others. His plan is to attract at least 100 new members from neighbouring communities--Yemokaraga, Zoonaayili, Limo, Bilsinga, Kpalugu, and Zuloggu--all in the Gushiegu District.
"I have tasted success under this arrangement. Now my plan is to mobilize new members so they too can access this opportunity and grow. This is how we build prosperity--together."
Abdul Salam's story powerfully illustrates SADEP's inclusive and leveraged approach to agricultural development.
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of his story is not his remarkable growth from 2022 to early 2024, but his resilience in the face of adversity. Despite losing much of what he had gained, Abdul Salam did not lose his vision or determination. He embodies the ability not just to grow in good times but to endure challenges and emerge stronger.
As Abdul Salam prepares for the next farming season, his story continues to inspire other farmers in the Gushiegu District and beyond. From a struggling farmer with five acres to a leader managing 100 acres and owning mechanization equipment, his transformation embodies the opportunity that SADEP creates. His 20 years of waiting were not wasted--they built the determination that seized opportunity when it finally came.
