Ghana is taking daring steps to enhance meals safety and sustainability by bringing collectively agritech, agribusiness, and collaborative partnerships. With digital coaching and assist from the Netherlands Belief Fund V (NTF V) Ghana Tech mission, initiatives just like the Horticulture Enterprise Platform (HBP) and the Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Convention are reshaping agriculture.
The nation has lowered starvation and malnutrition, however obstacles stay. About 40% of the population works in agriculture, which is extremely susceptible to local weather change, restricted infrastructure, and post-harvest losses.
Ghana imports staples like rice, tomatoes, and onions, highlighting the pressing must strengthen native manufacturing. Including to the problem, post-harvest losses account for as much as 30% of what’s grown. To show issues round, progressive options are wanted – together with good coverage adjustments, and community-driven efforts.
1 million individuals in Ghana are meals insecure
1 million kids beneath 5 are chronically malnourished
The function of agritech
Agriculture is the spine of Ghana’s economic system, however faces challenges like restricted market entry, inefficient provide chains, and a shrinking workforce. Agritech can tackle these points.
The Horticulture Enterprise Platform (HBP) gathers farmers, small companies, enter suppliers, and farmer-based teams, all working towards shared objectives. By working with key organizations, HBP promotes sustainable progress in horticulture, providing its members alternatives to entry native and world markets, profit from coaching programmes, and have interaction in commerce festivals.
Led by Barnabas Apom of the GNBCC, the HBP is a main instance of how focused tasks can drive progress. Initially established to community Dutch-Ghanaian companies, GNBCC’s scope has developed to deal with important points in horticulture and cocoa.
One of many HBP’s hallmark tasks is ‘Farm-to-Market,’ which connects farmers with consumers by means of pre-negotiated agreements. Leveraging know-how from ITC’s NTF V Tech cohort, farmers monitor their manufacturing and construct the boldness of monetary establishments to fund agricultural ventures.
“Know-how permits us to succeed in bigger communities shortly, bettering effectivity and inspiring youth participation in meals security and safety.” Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Director of the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), KIC helps younger entrepreneurs and small companies by means of coaching, mentorship, and seed funding
Constructing collaborative networks
Partnerships are on the coronary heart of those successes. The NTF V assist brings collectively agribusinesses, know-how corporations, buyers, and authorities businesses to seek out sustainable options. One instance is the Agricultural Innovation for Africa Convention (AIA), co-hosted by KIC. On the 2024 occasion, over 1,500 farmers, tech innovators, and policymakers explored alternatives to work collectively.
On the convention’s ‘deal room,’ a matchmaking hub linked agribusinesses with monetary establishments, tech corporations and buyers. The AIA not solely opened doorways for funding but additionally helped form authorities insurance policies to raised assist small companies in agriculture. Attendees left with significant connections, helpful sources, and methods to develop their companies.
Empowering youth and girls
Youth engagement and gender equality are central to Ghana’s agricultural transformation. The nation’s farmers on common at the moment are over 50, so it’s important to attract youthful generations into the sector. Programmes just like the Younger Farmers Enterprise Academy at KIC concentrate on regenerative agriculture and climate-smart practices to coach younger individuals to allow them to drive a sustainable agricultural revolution.
Agritech startups within the NTF V cohort prioritize empowering girls farmers. ‘Agro Innova’s FDS platform, for instance, supplies girls with the sources and instruments to thrive as entrepreneurs in agriculture,’ stated Gyan-Kesse. ‘These efforts not solely improve meals safety and financial empowerment but additionally advance SDG 5 (Gender Equality), making certain that ladies play an integral function in shaping Ghana’s agricultural future.’
Challenges and Alternatives
Regardless of substantial achievements, Apom stated many farmers nonetheless lack entry to smartphones and the digital abilities wanted to make use of superior instruments. ‘Closing this hole requires sensible, tailor-made options that tackle the precise wants and challenges of rural farmers.’
To spice up native manufacturing, the HBP is rolling out pilot programmes to simplify entry for market girls to purchase native crops. This not solely helps cut back post-harvest losses but additionally strengthens native meals methods
A sustainable future
‘Growing digital options for farmers, even in distant areas, has been a outstanding achievement,’ stated Bram van Opijnen, First Secretary on the Dutch Embassy in Ghana. ‘It’s a testomony to the facility of collaboration and innovation.’
Ghana’s dedication to reaching meals safety and sustainability gives a blueprint for different nations grappling with comparable challenges. Know-how, cooperation, and inclusivity are reshaping the nation’s agricultural panorama. ‘As these programmes develop and adapt, they maintain the promise of a extra resilient, equitable, and sustainable future, not just for Ghana however for communities worldwide,’ Gyan-Kesse stated.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Worldwide Commerce Centre.
