Nigerian company Lotus Ecoculture has launched an agricultural development company in Ghana with the aim of offsetting some of the $35 billion annual cost of food imports to Africa. With over 3,300 hectares of land, Lotus Ecoculture is on a mission to increase farming yields by up to 30% whilst maintaining a zero-waste, zero-chemical operation through its subsidiary Mepe Farms LTD, located in Mepe Community, in the Volta Region of Ghana.
The business aims to tackle rising food costs using innovative agronomic and agritech solutions, and a fully-mechanised technological process to boost growth in Ghana’s agricultural sector. All inputs are OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) certified, bringing Ghana best-in-class organic inputs, available to farmers in the region at a discounted price.
“We want to bring sustainability and food security to Africa while looking after the environment. We have recognised how we can create a solution to food security by forming long-term partnerships with retailers, buyers and processors,” explains Osayi Olotu, CEO of Mepe Farms.
With over 6 years of trading and smallholder farmer aggregation in the West African markets, Lotus Ecoculture’s arrival in Ghana marks the next step on their journey to improving food security in Africa. By operating highly-efficient farming and processing activities, and building on the processing infrastructure in-country. Mepe Farms provides cultivation-as-a-service to meet local demand and boost exports of grains and fresh produce in Ghana.
The company will create over 50 new jobs running an all-female agronomic team in its greenhouses, to remedy the fact that women make up almost 70% of the sector, but earn a fraction of the income.
“Land ownership and lack of education of smallholder farmers are major factors hindering the agriculture sector. Arable farmland is either owned by communities or governments who do not understand the power of strategic partnerships with the private sector. Smallholder farmers do not have the means to expand operations to meet demand due to inefficiencies like lack of access to inputs, poor knowledge of mobile and payment technologies, or the means to harvest and transport produce to buyers. A lack of understanding of the needs of an offtaker with regards to mutually beneficial pricing systems or the quality of produce required can create another barrier to the market.”
“Our business model guarantees offtakers the required quality and quantity of raw material needed for their operations while being able to plan financially due to agreed pricing. In return, these long-term partnerships allow us to invest in the agricultural infrastructure needed to cultivate best-in-class agricultural produce - this creates a sustainable business environment and enhances food security and industrialisation in Africa.”
Lotus Ecoculture will be building a 50Ha Greenhouse for the cultivation of organic tomatoes to meet their 4500MT service agreement with two tomato processing companies operating in the Bono Region in Ghana. They have also secured long-term export agreements for soybeans to Europe and Asia.
“With the land acquisition of 3,300 Ha, an experienced agronomic team and world-class agricultural technology, we are geared to deliver world-class fresh produce for global consumption. We are open to more strategic partnerships that will enhance the agriculture value chain in Africa.”
For more information:
Agyeiwaa Pepera
Mepe Farms
Tel: +233 55 383 7852
[email protected]