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The Chief Executive Officer of Bigg Bunny Farms Limited and Nhyira Feeds, Nathaniel A. Quartey, has urged farmers and agribusiness operators across Ghana to embrace cooperative models as a practical strategy for reducing production costs and improving profitability.
Speaking during an interview on Adwinton Business Hour with host Awal Yahya, Mr. Quartey highlighted the growing financial pressures facing farmers, including rising feed prices, transportation costs, veterinary expenses, and the high cost of agricultural inputs.
According to him, forming cooperatives can help small and medium-scale farmers pool their resources and strengthen their bargaining power when purchasing inputs and marketing their products.
“One way to cut out costs is to form cooperatives,” Mr. Quartey said. “When farmers come together, they can buy feed ingredients, farm equipment, vaccines, and other inputs in bulk at reduced prices. This lowers the cost burden on individual farmers and improves overall efficiency.”
He explained that cooperative structures also provide members with greater access to markets, financing opportunities, technical support, and knowledge-sharing platforms, all of which are essential for sustainable agricultural growth.
Mr. Quartey noted that many successful agricultural economies around the world have relied on cooperative systems to empower farmers and increase productivity. He believes Ghana’s livestock and crop sectors can achieve similar success if farmers are willing to collaborate rather than operate in isolation.
The agribusiness entrepreneur further stressed that cooperatives can help members negotiate better prices for their produce and reduce losses associated with fragmented marketing systems.
“As individual farmers, our voices may be small, but together we become a stronger force in the marketplace,” he stated.
He also called on government agencies, financial institutions, and development partners to support the formation and strengthening of farmer cooperatives through training, capacity-building programmes, and access to affordable credit.
Agricultural experts have long identified cooperative farming as a key tool for improving rural livelihoods, increasing productivity, and enhancing food security. Mr. Quartey’s remarks add to ongoing discussions about how Ghana’s agricultural sector can become more resilient amid rising production costs and changing market conditions.
His comments come at a time when farmers across the country are seeking innovative ways to remain competitive while maintaining profitability in an increasingly challenging business environment.
The interview on Adwinton Business Hour forms part of a broader conversation on sustainable agribusiness practices and the future of agriculture in Ghana.