Accra: Stakeholders in agriculture have emphasised the importance of technology in attracting young people into farming, saying modern innovations could transform agriculture into a more appealing and profitable venture. They said integrating technology into agriculture would not only improve productivity but also change the perception among young people that farming was labour-intensive and unattractive.
According to Ghana News Agency, the stakeholders shared their views during the opening of the Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 held at Black Star Square in Accra. This inaugural event was organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, in collaboration with the Ghana Export-Import Bank. The three-day event, themed 'Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology,' showcases locally developed agricultural machinery, agro-processing equipment, and emerging technologies aimed at boosting productivity and strengthening value addition in the sector.
President John Dramani Mahama, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, and Mr Sylvester A. Mensah, Chief Executive of Ghana EXIM Bank, officiated the opening of the fair. Madam Faustina Okai, Principal of Bedeku Technical Institute, highlighted how practical training and innovation in schools could inspire young people to pursue careers in agriculture. She mentioned that students at the institute designed and built a milling machine to process sorghum leaves cultivated on the school's farm into tea bags and powder for cooking, demonstrating the potential of technology and skills training in supporting agro-processing and value addition.
Madam Okai noted that the sorghum leaf tea had health benefits and could be consumed as a natural beverage. She also mentioned that the innovation attracted interest from visitors at the exhibition, but the school lacked adequate facilities to scale up production. She appealed to the government and private partners to support the institute with well-equipped workshops and infrastructure to enable students to expand production. Such innovations could help promote Made-in-Ghana products and even open opportunities for export.
Mr Harry Bernard Wright, Managing Director of Hydroponics and Agri-Tech Group of Companies, underscored the importance of technological innovations in modern agriculture. He highlighted technologies such as hydroponics and aquaponics, which help modernise farming and attract young people into the sector. Hydroponics is a method of growing crops without soil, while aquaponics combines fish farming with crop cultivation in a system that recycles water and nutrients. Mr Wright explained that these systems enable farmers to produce high yields in small spaces, making them suitable for urban and backyard farming.
Mr Wright also mentioned how his company is converting agricultural waste like rice husk into biochar and organic fertiliser to improve soil health and crop yields. The organic fertiliser enhances soil structure while feeding crops, unlike inorganic fertilisers that degrade the soil over time. He added that the technology could potentially reclaim lands degraded by illegal mining activities, allowing them to be suitable for planting within about a year.
Mr Wright called for greater collaboration between the government and the private sector to scale up agricultural innovations and training programmes for farmers and young people. He noted that the company had been running training programmes and internships for students from universities such as the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast to equip them with practical skills in modern farming technologies.
Stakeholders at the fair expressed optimism that sustained investment in agricultural technology, research, and skills development would help attract more youth into the sector and strengthen Ghana's agricultural transformation.