Let agriculture drive Ghana’s transformation
Ghana has talked about transforming agriculture for decades. We have launched programmes, distributed inputs, promoted mechanisation and repeatedly described agriculture as the backbone of the economy. Yet, for all the talk, the sector continues to struggle with low productivity, limited processing, inadequate technology and a shortage of young people willing to see farming as a … The post Let…
Ghana's agricultural sector has been a topic of discussion for a long time, with various initiatives aimed at boosting productivity, processing, technology, and attracting young professionals to farming. However, despite these efforts, the industry continues to face challenges such as low productivity, inadequate processing capabilities, a lack of technology, and a scarcity of young people interested in taking farming seriously.
Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS), offers a clear perspective on how Ghana can transform its economy by integrating agriculture and technology. He emphasizes that successful economies do not abandon agriculture but rather modernize it through research, technology, processing improvements, skill development, and infrastructure enhancement, all while establishing industries around agricultural production.
A significant aspect of the UEAS strategy is its focus on specialized and practical training for students. This shift away from producing graduates with broad knowledge but limited practical skills is crucial for fostering innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to the industry. Nevertheless, universities alone cannot transform agriculture.
The Vice Chancellor calls for collaboration with the government, financial institutions, and the private sector to provide financing, land, and a conducive business environment. Banks, in particular, play a vital role in making agricultural lending a viable commercial opportunity through proper assessment, insurance, value-chain financing, and appropriate technology.
Changing the perception of agriculture among the youth is equally important, as highlighted by Dr. Isaac Okpoti Nai, Managing Director of New Times Corporation. Young people tend to avoid agriculture due to a lack of proper marketing, which must change. Modern agriculture encompasses precision farming, irrigation, agricultural engineering, biotechnology, food processing, logistics, agribusiness, data, and digital technologies.
Ghana must deliberately cultivate these opportunities to reduce its dependence on imported food, create jobs, and bolster its industrial base. The inauguration of UEAS should be seen as part of a broader national conversation about the necessary skills and how they can contribute to economic production. Government policies, university education, access to capital, industry development, and the youth's mindset all need to align to turn Ghana's agricultural advantages into economic value.
With the land, people, and knowledge at their disposal, the country now has the chance to move agriculture from mere political rhetoric to productive enterprise.
Written by urgent.news from Ghanaian Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
