Agric, a sector of choice, not a last resort -Bushira shares

While many graduates dream of securing comfortable corporate jobs after years of education, Bushira Saanpograwwo Abass chose a different path. Armed with determination and savings from her National Service, she ventured into pineapple farming, driven by a belief in the untapped opportunities within agriculture.

What began as a modest farming experiment has since evolved into a growing agribusiness, positioning her as a woman determined to challenge conventional perceptions of farming, inspire young people and build a lasting agricultural legacy.

Born in Bawku in the Upper East Region, Bushira was raised in a family that valued education and discipline. She attended school in Bawku and Tamale Senior High School, studied Advanced French Language at the Ghana Institute of Languages and Bilingual Secretaryship at the University of Media, Arts and Communication, then earned an MPhil in Sustainability Science from the University of Ghana. Her childhood ambitions were journalism and space travel; but farming came unexpectedly.

Bushira’s interest grew from seeing a gap in a sector essential to everyday life. She recognised agriculture’s untapped potential but believed youth participation and innovation were insufficient. To her, it offered much more than crop cultivation and animal rearing: it was a route to entrepreneurship, employment and wealth creation.

Her decision was not immediately understood. Her parents expected her to find an office job after her education, while some friends questioned her choice of farming. She remained convinced that the sector offered an opportunity worth pursuing.

Her journey began about eight years ago, during National Service, when she saved portions of her allowance to establish a business. After considering crops and livestock, she chose crop production. A trip to the mountains around Aburi inspired her to grow pineapples. She admired the plantations and recognised the crop’s commercial potential.

With her savings, she started despite having no practical farming experience. She learnt on the job, making mistakes and improving her methods. That first venture became the foundation of Bushara Bustan.

Her first major setback was losing an entire production, a financial and emotional blow that threatened the business.

She temporarily left farming, returned to corporate work, started a personal business and saved until she could rebuild. Eventually, she returned to the field.

Last year, an earth-moving machine destroyed part of her farm in an incident reportedly caused by a mistake. The damage attracted public attention and calls from concerned supporters. Despite promises of assistance, she says she received no help towards recovery.

She did not consider quitting. Other farms and ongoing production enabled her to continue. The experience reinforced her belief that entrepreneurs cannot always wait for outside support; sometimes they must work with the resources available.

Bushara Bustan has grown from a small pineapple venture into a diversified enterprise. Pineapple remains its main crop, alongside cassava, chilli pepper and ginger.

Bushira has also entered livestock and poultry through Horns and Wings Sustenance, which deals in chicken, turkey and goats, sold live or properly packaged.

Farming’s reward, she says, is knowing her farms contribute food to people’s tables. Agriculture has also brought financial stability and opportunities in mentoring, teaching, consultancy and advocacy. Her day often begins at 5 a.m. with farm supervision.

Youth development is central to Bushira’s work. She founded ‘The Agreen Generation Blueprint’ to equip young people with practical agricultural skills and agribusiness knowledge. She also leads Agric Legacy Builders, a platform for sharing knowledge and connecting people through the experiences of those in the sector.

She wants young people to regard agriculture as a sector of choice, not a last resort.

 As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, she has occasionally faced challenges managing farm workers. Some male workers, she says, have seemed reluctant to take her instructions seriously.

She suspects they assume she will not be firm enough to enforce decisions. She sees her leadership as a way to challenge stereotypes and show that women can run agricultural businesses.

Bushira hopes to expand Bushara Bustan, increase production and improve market reach. She wants Horns and Wings Sustenance to become a reliable supplier of livestock and poultry products. Through The Agreen Generation Blueprint, she plans to reach more young people, especially women, with practical training and mentorship.

She wants her legacy associated with opportunity, impact and honesty. She believes success should not come at the expense of integrity.

Away from work, Bushira enjoys a quiet life, watching movies and resting at home. She sometimes visits the beach to relax. Her outlook is grounded in faith, hard work, contentment and treating others well.

 She urged young aspiring farmers to begin with what they have, keep learning and not let fear stop them. 

“Farming demands patience, commitment and resilience. Young entrepreneurs also need access to land, affordable finance, practical training, mentorship, modern equipment and dependable markets,” she added.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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