Accra: The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC) have partnered to establish a 750-hectare irrigated vegetable production hub in the Eastern Region. This initiative aims to support the Government's Feed Ghana Agenda, bolster food security, and integrate 118 Ghanaian graduates trained in agricultural sciences into modern commercial farming.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, announced the collaboration during an event in Accra where the Ministry welcomed the graduates. These graduates, who completed postgraduate studies at the People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), were sponsored by the Jospong Group of Companies and the African Agribusiness Consortium. They include 88 agronomy specialists and 30 ecology graduates.
Mr. Opoku stated that the Ministry has allocated 750 hectares of irrigated land at Konadu in the Afram Plains for the project. The African Agribusiness Consortium will provide logistics and cover irrigation water charges to facilitate the project's implementation. He emphasized that this initiative underscores the Government's commitment to placing agriculture at the core of economic transformation by increasing food production, developing agribusiness, creating jobs, and substituting imports.
The Minister assured that the Ministry would collaborate with the African Agribusiness Consortium and other partners to assist the graduates in integrating into the agricultural sector through access to land, irrigation support, and strategic partnerships. 'Our objective is simple: to ensure that the expertise you have acquired translates into increased agricultural productivity, enhanced food security, job creation, and national economic growth,' he stated.
Mr. Opoku encouraged the graduates to utilize the knowledge gained abroad to tackle challenges facing Ghana's agricultural sector and contribute to its transformation. Dr. Mrs. Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer of the Consortium, mentioned that the organization aims to develop a new generation of agricultural professionals who can transform Ghana's food systems, beyond just providing scholarships.
She noted that the graduates would be supported to become entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators, rather than solely relying on conventional employment. 'We want to prepare them to build enterprises, support farmers, strengthen value chains, and introduce practical solutions to the challenges confronting Ghana's agricultural and environmental sectors,' she stated.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, expressed that the investment in the graduates is part of the Group's commitment to developing human capital for sustainable growth. He urged the graduates to stay in Ghana and apply their skills to modernize agriculture and support national development. 'Your skills and ideas must drive a new revolution in farming. Settle, work hard, and help transform Ghana's agriculture,' he said.
The graduates received postgraduate training in crop production, soil and plant health, sustainable agriculture, climate change, environmental protection, and natural resource management.