Newage Agric Solutions Ltd in partnership with Chi-Gaba, an out-grower scheme management company, has organised a two-day intensive alternative livelihood skills training for two hundred (200) young females under the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Programme.

The HAPPY Program is a four-year partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited, implemented by an eight-member consortium that includes Newage Agric Solutions Ltd.

The program aims to create dignified and fulfilling jobs for the youth, especially young women in the rice, soybean, tomato and poultry value chains.

The participants of the two-day training were drawn from the Challu, Pieng, and Kulfuo communities in the Sisaala East Municipality of the Upper West Region, and were equipped with practical, income-generating skills beyond soybean production. This was done as part of efforts to ensure all year-round economic engagement for the target groups.

The training focused on production of liquid soap, bar soap and Tom Brown. Beyond production techniques, the participants were equipped with knowledge in product handling, hygiene standards, labelling, packaging and basic entrepreneurship, critical competencies required to successfully start and manage small-scale enterprises.

The initiative provides female HAPPY participants with alternative income streams which can be relied upon during the off-seasons; strengthening their financial independence, improving household resilience, and contributing to local economic development within their communities.

Delivered free of charge by experienced professionals, the training demonstrates Newage’s continued commitment under the HAPPY Programme to advancing farmer wellbeing beyond crop production. It ensures that participants are not only productive farmers under the Chi-Gaba out-grower scheme, but also empowered entrepreneurs capable of building sustainable and resilient futures.

Speaking after the training, participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity and the practical nature of the sessions.

One participant, Doziera, shared her excitement: “I can now make liquid soap, and sell it to earn money to take care of my children. Now I know the right chemicals to use and the correct process. The training was very exciting. I was fascinated by how the soap is made. Chi-Gaba is always helpful by introducing us to initiatives that help us grow.”



Another participant, Ajara, said the approach Chi-Gaba used made all the difference.

“The process of making liquid soap here is different from what I was used to. Now I won’t buy soap again; I will make my own. Unlike other organizations, Chi-Gaba brought us together and gave us real, practical training,” she stated.

Through initiatives like this, Newage Agric Solutions Ltd and Chi-Gaba continue to demonstrate that empowering farmers go beyond inputs and crop yields; it is about creating lasting opportunities that uplift families and strengthen communities.