Mariseth Farms has secured a $1 million working capital loan from a consortium of investors to scale its crop aggregation operations and enhance fair market access for smallholder farmers, particularly women. This follows a $560,000 facility raised last month from Sahel Capital’s Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA). The latest round includes additional backing from the development finance institution, RDF Ghana and ABSA Bank Ghana.
The funding will support the company’s strategic growth initiatives to strengthen Mariseth Farms’ agricultural value chain. Key priorities include expanding in-house crop production, growing its network of smallholder supplier-aggregators, onboarding additional agriculture extension officers, and forging new offtaker partnerships to boost market access.
To strengthen its leadership, Pangea Africa partner John Scicchitano has been appointed to chair Mariseth Board of Directors since January 2025. He is also joined by Gena Perry, the Executive Director of the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, to enhance the company’s governance further.
Established in 2016, Mariseth Farms specializes in producing, processing, and aggregating high-demand crops such as oil palm, soybeans, and maize for local and global markets. By combining its large-scale farming operations with a trusted network of over 9,255 smallholder farmers, Mariseth Farms has built a reputation for prioritizing equitable engagement with smallholders often excluded from traditional market systems.
The company’s model includes engaging farmers early—before and during planting seasons—to ensure they use improved inputs and are better prepared for climate and market challenges.
“This capital acquisition is a testament to the hard work of the Mariseth Farms team, and is proof that women are driving agribusiness growth in Ghana,” said Marian Ofori Twumasi, CEO of Mariseth Farms. “We are excited to utilize these funds to empower more smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, and contribute to regional food security and prosperity.”
