At 33, Hannah Aidoo from Mankessim in Ghana’s Central Region has long nurtured a dream of building a poultry business that not only sustains her family but also uplifts her community. Despite holding a Master’s Degree in Economics, Hannah pursued her passion for poultry farming. What began as a modest farm has now evolved into a lucrative enterprise. Hannah founded H.A. Farms, a diversified operation that raises poultry, rabbits, snails, vegetables, mushrooms, and catfish. The farm is built on a commitment to eco-friendly practices, using organic ingredients and climate-smart technologies. 

These practices include utilising solar energy, implementing weighing and measuring systems to minimise waste, and using manure from production to fertilise food crops. This comprehensive, circular approach supports both human and environmental health, positioning H.A. Farms as a model for sustainable agriculture.

Hannah’s entrepreneurial journey was far from smooth. She faced high production costs and operational inefficiencies that threatened her dream. Feed prices soared, electricity costs strained her budget, and water wastage added to mounting expenses.
These challenges constrained her capacity to grow and compete in a tough market, placing significant pressure on her as both a businesswoman and a pillar of her community, relying on her success.

Her breakthrough came when she learned about the Mastercard Foundation’s BRIDGE-in Agriculture Program via a WhatsApp network.
Through the climate-smart agriculture training program with Africa Skills Hub, Hannah gained practical skills for managing resources efficiently. She now weighs the feed and medication and measures the water provided to her birds daily. This approach enables Hannah to supply the correct quantities of resources, reducing waste and cutting expenses while maintaining productivity.

“Before the training, I felt overwhelmed by costs and uncertainty about how to improve,” she recalls. “The knowledge and support I received transformed my approach to operating and thinking about my business.”

With training and funding from BRIDGE-in Agriculture, Hannah adopted new technologies and practices that significantly reduced her water and electricity costs, allowing her to reinvest in the expansion of her farm.
“The farm has expanded from a capacity of 350 layers to 3,000 layers.”

These improvements set her poultry business on a sustainable growth trajectory, unlocking opportunities she had only dreamed of, now employing five permanent workers and ten casual workers.

“I now use electricity efficiently to lower my carbon footprint. I have installed a lighting control system, including a photocell and an automatic switch that regulates when our lights turn on and off.”

Scaling impact beyond the farm

Hannah now operates a farming shop selling poultry feed, crates, veterinary drugs, and poultry inputs to other poultry farmers in her community. Her vision extends far beyond her own farm’s success. With the grant received from the BRIDGE-in Agriculture program, she is working toward establishing a poultry feed mill to supply farmers in her region, aiming to strengthen the local agricultural economy and create jobs. By supporting other poultry businesses, Hannah hopes to build a more resilient, interconnected farming community where smallholders can thrive together.