A coordinated pan-African agro-industrial initiative is advancing efforts to position the continent as a leading exporter of premium dried fruits, under the Africa’s Rapid Industrialisation Programme (ARIPro).
The initiative, led by Hanypay Global Services Malawi in partnership with Networked Business Minds, is deploying an integrated model that combines financing, technical capacity development and structured market access to unlock value across Africa’s fruit production chain.
Spanning Malawi, Ghana and Uganda, the programme is targeting key agricultural zones to build a competitive dried fruit industry anchored on quality production, export readiness and sustainable value addition.
Hanypay Global Services Malawi is providing strategic financing for equipment, infrastructure and working capital, while Networked Business Minds is delivering technical training, enterprise development and international market linkage support.
In Malawi, a flagship pilot project is underway in Karonga under the leadership of Mr Phillas Guzha, Head of Networked Business Minds and Chief Executive Officer of the Hanypay Global Services Malawi Franchise.
The project is projected to produce between 10 and 20 tonnes of premium dried mango, banana and pineapple products within its first year, targeting high-value European markets with natural, unsweetened and sulphite-free offerings.
Participating farmers and processors are undergoing specialised training in fruit selection, precision slicing, pretreatment and controlled solar drying techniques to ensure product consistency and compliance with international export standards.
With an estimated start-up investment of between 3,700 and 7,400 AKL, the project is expected to achieve break-even within nine to 12 months and generate up to 14,800 AKL in revenue in its first year, while supporting between 20 and 50 smallholder farmers.
In Ghana, the initiative is expected to strengthen the country’s dried fruit export capacity through targeted financing for production expansion, processing equipment and logistics optimisation.
In East Africa, Uganda and neighbouring countries are also being integrated into the programme through interventions focused on banana processing, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and expanding employment opportunities across the value chain.
Across all participating countries, ARIPro projects are being implemented through a standardised yet adaptable framework that incorporates structured processing systems, solar-powered drying technology, certification pathways such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and working capital support.
Networked Business Minds is further supporting market intelligence, branding and certification processes, including Organic and Fairtrade standards, to enhance product competitiveness on the international market.
Collectively, the pilot phase is expected to deliver between 30 and 60 tonnes of dried fruit in its first year, while building the capacity of hundreds of farmers and processors across the continent.
Projections indicate that by the third year, revenues across the network could reach between 33,200 and 66,400 AKL, underscoring the initiative’s scalability and long-term commercial viability.
Industry observers say the programme reflects a strategic shift towards integrated, value-added agriculture in Africa, linking smallholder producers to global markets through structured industrial systems.
They note that the alignment of financing, technical expertise and market access presents a viable pathway for unlocking agricultural productivity, enhancing export competitiveness and driving inclusive economic growth.
As global demand for natural, clean-label food products continues to rise, Africa’s emerging footprint in the premium dried fruit market is expected to create sustainable economic opportunities, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the continent’s position in international trade.
Story by Kekeli K. Blamey
