Agri-Impact Limited, an agribusiness development firm, has officially entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The primary objective of this collaboration is to champion and elevate agricultural businesses among youth by leveraging innovative technologies.
The strategic alliance, forged by the Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited, Mr. Dan Acquaye, and the Provost of the College of Agric and Natural Resources at KNUST, Professor Ben Banful, aims to generate dignified employment opportunities for 326,000 young individuals, with a special focus on empowering women in agriculture. Additionally, the partnership seeks to dispel misconceptions surrounding agriculture among students.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Deputy Chief Executive of Agri-Impact Limited, Mrs. Julie Asante-Dartey, highlighted the transformative impact of the agreement. She emphasized that the collaboration would amplify youth participation in agriculture, enhance their capabilities, and position them as ambassadors of agribusiness.
Furthermore, the partnership will harness the electronic learning platform of KNUST to train over 500 youth, equipping them with the skills to establish agribusiness enterprises through information, communication, and technology (ICT). Mrs. Asante-Dartey stressed the significance of instilling an entrepreneurial mindset among students, asserting that it would not only secure lifelong job opportunities but also contribute to mitigating the prevalent issue of youth unemployment.
“The training is to help students become entrepreneurs and ambassadors of agriculture,” she affirmed. The four-year development project will concentrate on rice, soya, poultry, and tomato production.
Mrs. Asante-Dartey expressed optimism that, with the support of KNUST, students would benefit from an efficient value chain, leading to increased productivity, streamlined market access, and enhanced enterprise efficiency. She anticipated that the initiative, over four years, would generate a minimum annual revenue of $200 million, contributing to a 10% reduction in importation.
The collaborative effort extends beyond business ventures, aiming to involve academia in developing policies for effective implementation in the agribusiness sector. The Dean of Agribusiness and Integrated Supply Chain Management at KNUST, Professor Albert Aidoo, underscored the importance of such partnerships in meeting the demands of agribusiness development among Ghanaian youth.
He acknowledged the MoU as a crucial step toward fostering success in the agricultural sector and bringing agricultural businesses closer to the youth in Ghana.