Accra: Stakeholders in agriculture and engineering have urged the Government to strengthen policy and institutional support for local agro-industrial innovations to boost productivity and create jobs. They emphasized that scaling up support for locally developed agro-processing technologies would improve access to equipment, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote industrialization.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made on the sidelines of the Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 at the Black Star Square in Accra. The three-day fair, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in collaboration with the Ghana Export-Import Bank, is themed 'Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology.'
Mr. Patrick Quansah, Director of Engineering at the Gratis Foundation, highlighted the institution's efforts in designing and manufacturing agro-processing equipment to enhance efficiency in the agricultural value chain. He noted that these machines help reduce time, labor, and energy consumption during processing, thus increasing productivity for agro-processors.
Mr. Quansah revealed that between 60 and 70 percent of the machine components were locally produced, making the equipment relatively affordable for small and medium-scale enterprises and cottage processors. These machines, including maize threshers, soya bean threshers, shea nut crushers, shea butter kneaders, and fruit juice extractors, have been widely used with positive feedback. He also pointed out that locally made machines are easy to repair and maintain, with spare parts readily available.
However, Mr. Quansah identified access to food-grade stainless steel as a significant challenge, as it has to be imported, increasing production costs. He called for policies promoting Made-in-Ghana machines to ensure farmers across the country can easily access them. He also advocated for increased support for local manufacturing institutions and the retooling of regional engineering centers to meet growing demand.
The fair also showcased emerging technologies such as agricultural drones. Mr. Dan Mensah, Senior Technician in charge of drones at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Learning Centre, explained that drone technology could significantly improve agricultural productivity by allowing farmers to spray large areas in a short time, making farming more accessible and attractive, especially to the youth.
Mr. Mensah mentioned that the university is collaborating with Agri-Impact Limited to train young people in drone technology, coding, agribusiness, and digital tools. He emphasized that agriculture is not only for the aged and that with technology, it has become a modern and profitable sector.