Dutch initiative GhanaVeg publishes three calls in vegetable sector

GhanaVeg is an initiative of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in line with efforts towards prioritizing commercial agriculture in its 4-years Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (2014-2017). Its mission is to establish a sustainable and internationally competitive vegetable sector that contributes to inclusive economic growth and has the capacity to continuously innovate in terms of products and services. Objectives include improving productivity in the vegetable sector; facilitating more efficient markets, including: linking vegetable producers and other value chain operators with the Dutch private sector; improving the business climate and further professionalizing the value chain for vegetable production and consumption in Africa.

The first calls of the GhanaVeg Programme are collectively aimed at supporting a sector-wide development of Ghana’s vegetable sector. They include two calls under its Business Opportunities Fund and one call under its R&D Innovation Fund. The Business Opportunities Calls which include the Seed Industry and Chain Integration Calls for Proposals will fund three proposed activities each. Also announced was the R&D Innovation Call on Input Supply that will co-finance four private sector-led innovative R&D activities. Dedaline of submissions for all three calls is May 6, 2014.

The Seed Industry and Chain Integration Calls will be co-funded for 50% up to € 50,000, with a private sector contribution (in kind or cash) of an equivalent amount. The call R&D Innovation Call on Input Supply will be co-funded for 50% up to € 25,000 for four private sector-led innovative R&D activities.