MEET HER: Amma Serwaa Frimpong, the "Queen" Farmer of Treellion Farms -

Only 10 to 20 percent of landholders are women in developing countries, and in some parts of the world, women still cannot legally own or control land. While there is an increase of women in the agricultural sector, they still face discrimination. According to United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women-run farms produce 20 to 30 percent less than farms run by men. The reasons have nothing to do with an aptitude for farming but everything to do with the gender-specific obstacles such as lack of access to land, financing, markets, agricultural training and education among others.

Last week, I told you about how I had met amazing women entrepreneurs during the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative Program. Remember Phoebe Nakiwunga, the Adventurer? Today, I continue to serve you with the same dose of inspiration from yet another lady who’s so passionate about Agriculture and believes that farming is Feminine. She is an inspiration that women can shine and flourish in a sector mostly dominated by men, and I am here to cheer her on.

Drums roll………………meet Amma Serwaa Frimpong from Ghana.

Who Is Amma?

Amma Serwaa Frimpong is a compassionate lady who lives by the simple self-generated philosophy that: “Kindness is the only universal language understood by àll”. She translates this in both her personal and professional life. She is the founder of iVolunteer Ghana; a non-profit focused on developing Ghana in areas of Education, Health and Infrastructure. She holds a Bsc in Marketing and an MBA in Strategic Management and Consultancy. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and Ashoka Youth champion; and most notably: the “Queen” farmer of Treellion Farms; a start-up agro firm delivering Premium quality organic grains, fruits and vegetables through our partly irrigated farmlands in the Volta region of Ghana.

Tell us about your background and how you came to start Treellion Farms

Though I had prior experience working in the Agricultural sector, the concept of starting Treellion Farms is one with a unique funny story. During one of my NGO outreach programs in rural villages, I met so many young energetic ladies crying of unemployment. But this is a community with so much arable uncultivated farmlands. I questioned them on why they won’t consider farming instead of being idle. They claimed, “farming is not a woman’s job”. This rekindled my passion for Agriculture and took on starting a ten-acre farm to challenge the status quo that indeed: “Farming is Feminine”. I set out to prove a point that women can equally tap into the “trillion-dollar” Agriculture industry. Hence the adoption of the name Treellion Farms (pronounced Trillion).

What are your product ranges and what makes Treellion stand out from its competitors?

We currently have three crop portfolios namely; fruits (watermelons and pineapples), Vegetables ( bell peppers, garden eggs and okra) and lastly grains (maize). We also have a women outgrower scheme who produce chilli pepper for us. Our competitive edge is the fact that we grow our crops organically.

What would you consider as your most significant accomplishment so far?

My most significant accomplishment will be the fact that I’m still here and in the game. In my first season, I lost all my capital because a dam nearby broke and flooded the farm destroying all crops on the field. I didn’t give up. Also, the fact that I support our women outgrowers by ploughing their farmlands for them at the beginning of the season makes me proud.

Any other initiatives you’re passionate about apart from Treellion Farms?

Yes, my team and I have started a new project where we are researching on how to convert agro waste; particularly cashew apples into Bioethanol.

What do you think is the major challenge women entrepreneurs face in Africa?

Access to start-up funding will always be a major challenge for most African women entrepreneurs. Yes there are several funding opportunities out there but unfortunately only the educated entrepreneur is privy to such information. The likes of Aunty Muni; the food seller in the corner; who is very much of an entrepreneur may never get funding opportunities.

What’s next for Treellion Farms?

My team and I have started a new project where we are researching into converting agrowaste into Bioethanol. We are at the stage of creating our minimum viable product and we are very optimistic and excited.