Esther Fawole
Audrey S-Darko is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sabon Sake, a company that turns sugarcane waste into organic fertilizer to help boost the yields of Ghanaian farmers.
In Ghana, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy. Agriculture contributes nearly 25% to Ghana’s GDP and employs a staggering 53% of people. However, many farmers are largely poor due to low crop yields which are mainly occasioned by poor soil fertility.
S-Darko studied business degree at Ashesi University. Her decision to go into the making of organic fertilizers, from sugarcane is to help farmers move away from chemical fertilizers,
which are widely used by Ghanaian farmers because farmers often burn their crop waste after harvest which severely damages the soil after a period.
S-Darko realized how important it was for the government of Ghana to create a sustainable viable model around a valuable crop such as sugarcane. She also realize the impact on Ghana’s economy, the farmers themselves, the climate and environment especially, so she figured out it was a great starting point to find solution to help the Ghana’s economy.
Although not on a large scale, S-Darko provides a catalyst that will revive the sugarcane industry in Ghana through her green-friendly firm Sabon Sake. She relies on local sugarcane farmers from Ghana’s Southern Volta region, where she has set up her production facilities. She works with over some 30 local sugarcane farmers.
After securing the sugarcanes from the farmers, S-Darko uses biotechnology in her university’s laboratory to develop a bio-compost fertilizer from sugarcane waste that could ensure better soil quality, achieve greater yields, reduce crop losses and ultimately, overcome poverty.
Audrey S.Darko’s team wants to scale-up projection in the coming years so as to help vertical and urban farmers by providing them with organic fertilizers.
