SDM Case Study: Tamanaa, Ghana
Tamanaa is a grains processor with a diversified sourcing channel mix. Their goal is to be among the top 10 rice mills in Ghana in terms of efficient use of installed capacity, while simultaneously making an impact at the community level.
Leveraging all sourcing channels, Tamanaa seeks to rapidly scale up their sourcing volumes to 110,000 MT rice per year in order to fulfil the capacity of their processing facility, shifting their focus to sourcing from outgrowers.
To meet these sourcing targets, average volumes would need to grow to over 8 MT per farmer by increasing yields as well as farm sizes. Therefore, farmers receive a comprehensive service package, including GAP and financial literacy training, mechanization, and pre-financing of inputs, to ensure timely access of adequate high-quality inputs.
This SDM analysis assessed the business case for Tamanaa as well as for the smallholder farmers, leading to 3 main recommendations:
- Invest in structural trainings: Farmer trainings currently take place on an ad hoc basis. To safeguard the consistency and quality of the trainings, Tamanaa should invest in a more structural training approach
- Scale mechanization services: Tamanaa should invest in mechanization services. Sufficient availability of mechanized ploughing and harvesting services will significantly improve cost-efficiency as well as quality
- Develop a gender strategy: Tamanaa’s target is to include 50% women into their value chain by actively recruiting more female farmers and setting up women parboiling groups. However, a clear gender strategy should be formulated and documented, and this should be actively communicated internally as well as externally