SMEs Gain Transformative Insights at HBP and IDH  Supported ToT Program

22-11-2024

SMEs Gain Transformative Insights at HBP and IDH  Supported ToT Program

The Horticulture Business Platform (HBP), in collaboration with IDH, launched the Trainer of Trainers (ToT) program on November 12, 2024, at the Ellking Hotel in East Legon, Accra. Nearly 30 participants from 10 selected small and medium enterprises (SMEs) gathered for the three-day event, aimed at enhancing business and agronomic skills, boosting market competitiveness, and building capacity within the horticulture sector.

The event commenced with welcome addresses from the HBP core team and Project Coordinator Barnabas Apom, who highlighted the program’s purpose and its alignment with HBP’s ongoing initiatives. He emphasized that the training was part of HBP’s commitment to organizing sector-specific workshops and capacity-building sessions aimed at improving product quality and expanding market opportunities. Barnabas stressed the platform’s mission to create value for its members by equipping them with the resources needed to remain competitive in the market.

On the first day, participants were introduced to a business development training session led by Dode Seidu, a seasoned consultant from the African Trade Academy. The interactive session introduced participants to core concepts in agribusiness development, explored potential sources of finance, and provided practical strategies for accessing these resources. Participants asked insightful questions that sparked deeper discussions, receiving expert-guided feedback that made the session both highly interactive and conducive to learning. By the end of the session, several key takeaways emerged, including the value of building strong collaborations and partnerships within the agribusiness ecosystem, the need to regularly refine business strategies to maintain a competitive edge, and the importance of ongoing education to keep pace with industry trends.

On days two and three, the training sessions took place at the Adenta Community Garden, a conducive setting for hands-on training that allowed participants to fully engage in practical learning. Facilitators from Green Label Ghana Foundation and Holland Greentech conducted sessions focused on quality standards, agronomic best practices, and crop nutrition management. Participants gained in-depth knowledge on maintaining high-quality standards in agribusiness, the consequences of non-compliance, and the technical aspects of land preparation, irrigation system installation, and seedling nursery management. A significant highlight of the training was the session on crop nutrition, where participants learned the importance of precision agriculture tools, like pH and EC meters, to optimize nutrient supplementation. These tools not only ensure plant health but also safeguard the environment by preventing toxicity.

The program concluded with participants proudly taking home the seedlings they had nurtured themselves, a tangible reflection of the knowledge and skills they had gained. Feedback from attendees indicated that their expectations were exceeded, with many expressing their eagerness to apply their learnings during the Step-Down Training scheduled for November 27-28, 2024. In this phase, ToT participants will train at least ten farmers or outgrowers each, effectively cascading the benefits of the program to a wider audience.

Organized in collaboration with IDH and supported by funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the ToT program has already demonstrated its value. As a membership-based organization, HBP saw all participating SMEs become paid members, reflecting their recognition of the value gained from the training and their commitment to engaging with the platform’s ongoing benefits. This success underscores HBP’s dedication to empowering its members and fostering long-term growth in the horticulture sector.

GNBCC | News