The 2022 National Best Farmer, Akyempemphene of Juaben, and Chief Executive Officer of Siriboe Institute of Agribusiness, Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, has called on Ghanaian youth to change their views on Agribusiness and the Agricultural value chain. He emphasised the need to dispel the misconception that agriculture is an occupation reserved for the elderly and not a profitable venture.
He made this call during the AgriTech Challenge Classic Orientation organised by the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC) in collaboration with the Centre for Business Development (CBD) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) from 1st to 2nd July 2024.
Nana Siriboe I, advocated for youth engagement in Agribusiness and partnerships with institutions and stakeholders. He encouraged students to harness their knowledge confidently using the new technological tools to their advantage, enabling them to empower themselves, feed the nation, create businesses, and prosper. "Agriculture is no longer about aged people or hoes and cutlasses; it extends beyond the farm. The youth must gain vast knowledge about the value chain and the enormous profit available to see where they can best fit and become innovative," he stressed.
Professor James Osei Mensah, Associate Professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, and Extension, introduced the participants to ‘Agripreneurship.’ He highlighted the crucial role of entrepreneurship in addressing unemployment and fostering socioeconomic development in Ghana and Africa. ‘There has been a lot of graduate unemployment issues, hence, the KIC AgriTech Challenge Classic, aims to train entrepreneurs in the Agri-space to change the narrative and become innovative and creatively impact the Agricultural Sector,’ he said. Professor Mensah further encouraged students to leverage their creativity and innovation to tackle societal challenges.
The 2024 KIC AgriTech Challenge Classic targets tertiary students and graduates who have innovative business ideas in agriculture and wish to acquire the requisite tools, skills, and support to develop their ideas into viable, sustainable, and successful businesses. KIC has successfully invested in hundreds of young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have transformative ideas by providing tailored coaching, skills building, expert mentorship, seed funding, and facilitating connections within and across industries.
The Centre has successfully nurtured some of the most promising youth driven AgriTech startups in Ghana.
