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Setting the pace in Agribusiness…The Mariseth story
Agribusiness trialblazer Mariam Twumasi
Marian Ofori Twumasi is an established young female farmer moving steadily towards global recognition with her company, Mariseth Farms.
Mariseth Farms, an acronym of Marian and Seth (husband’s name) was founded in 2016 and has since grown to become one of the biggest suppliers of palm fruits, palm oil, maize, soya beans and other commodities to companies and households within Accra, Tema and beyond.
Operating on over 400 acre-land at Bibiani in the Western North Region and Asamankese in the Eastern Region, Mariseth Farms is setting the pace within the Agriculture sector.
The 35-year-old Mariam Twumasi, the 2021 National Best Youth Farmer is living the dream of making her farm, the hub for all natural produce (crops and livestock) in Ghana.
The dream, however, started in 2009 at the University of Ghana (UG) where she pursued Business Administration (Accounting).
Though, she had no knowledge about Agriculture, she was determined to venture into the sector and be successful, turning her main course of study into just an additional skill to her now real profession.
She approached the business as a hobby in 2009. She would visit farms with the desire to access some acres of land to start her own. She became successful eventually after securing three acres of land at Asamankese to start a Cocoa farm.
The former student of St. Roses Secondary School at Akwatia, near Asamankese chose the area since it was closer to Accra.
While in the university, she managed to save her pocket money together with some money she made out of her part-time teaching job to secure the land.
The plan was to go into Cocoa farming since she benefitted from Cocoa scholarship due to her father’s job. She later realised Cocoa was long-term so she had to do maize and other short-term crops while seeking for funds to support the long-term Cocoa project.
She then decided to go into some form of business, which was buying plantains from the villages in the area to Accra to sell.
That led to a decision to plant her own plantains and maize which she sold to make money to support her farm.
Mrs Twumasi later expanded the farm to seven acres in Asamankese, in 2012 when she completed university.
It was at that time she met her husband, Mr Seth Ofoe Twumasi who she described as her business partner. She sold the Agribusiness idea to Mr Twumasi which he has since supported.
Mr Twumasi managed to convince chiefs of his hometown, Nkronua at Bibiani in the Western North Region to allocate lands to them to start their farm project which was successful with an initial allocation of 10 acres to start with palm plantation.
The chiefs later realised she was doing well and granted her full access; which gave her over 400 acres of oil palm plantation and about 1000 acres yet-to-be cultivated land.
After a few years, she is able to sell some of the fruits, process some into palm oil and palm kernel oil and manage three fish ponds (catfish), 50 bee hives, livestock, poultry and other facilities on the same farm.
Eventually, she moved into big time commodities after the company, Mariseth was registered in 2016.
She also supplies soya beans, shea nuts, cashew as well as maize to companies and clients mostly in Tema and Accra.
Aside winning the National Best Youth Farmer award in 2021, she was awarded the Best Oil Palm Farmer in 2019, the first runner up, Municipal Best Farmer in 2020, Outstanding Woman in Agribusiness (GOWA 2020) the Change Champion and Young Agri-Preneur of the Year in 2022 and other recognitions. She is looking forward to winning more awards in 2024.
Marian got married to Mr Twumasi in 2013 and together, they have four beautiful girls. She described her husband as a pillar.
In the next five years, she would want to own a Processing Plant in the Western North Region to serve the oil palm farms in the area and a Mariseth Farm Village which would among other essentials have a storage facility.
She advised young people to take advantage of government initiatives in Agriculture and venture into the sector because it is very lucrative.
By Michael D. Abayateye
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GEXIM to host “SME GO” programme stakeholder sensitisation and fair on September 18
The Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana will be hosting the final phase of the stakeholder sensitisation exercise on the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Growth and Opportunity (SME GO) Programme at the Bank’s headquarters located at the Africa Trade House, in Accra.
The stakeholder sensitisation event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday SSeptember18, 2024 at 10 am and will give attendees a deeper insight into the SME GO Programme with a focus on the dynamics of the programme, eligibility criteria application process and how the initiative seeks to assist Ghanaian SMEs to scale up and compete favorably in the international marketplace.
The confirmed speakers and dignitaries for the event will highlight how Ghanaian SMEs can leverage on the SME GO Programme to build the capacities and make them sustainable.
They include Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Greater Accra Regional Minister as well as the Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Development Bank of Ghana.
Alongside the stakeholder sensitisation event, GEXIM will be hosting a special edition of its popular SME Fair dubbed “SME GO Mart” at the forecourt of the Africa Trade House, from 8am to 8pm.
The theme for the “SME GO Mart” is “Celebrating Ghanaian SMEs” and it will provide a platform for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to showcase various top-quality Made-In-Ghana products.
Over hundred Ghanaian entrepreneurs with unique products have been confirmed to participate in the fair.
They will be exhibiting several unique and authentic products at unbeatable prices including food and ingredients, beverages, skin and beauty care products, textiles, apparel, garments, leather footwear, slippers, and many others.
In July 2024, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance launched the SME GO Programme, a ground breaking initiative which sought to provide Ghanaian SMEs with the needed funds, requisite technology and knowledge as well as other relevant resources and tools to aid their growth to become international giants.
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Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
