The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation (Nkabom Collaborative) has launched the first cohort of trainees under its Multi-Purpose Integrated Programme (MIP) for Community Youth in Agribusiness.

The initiative aims to equip 40 non-tertiary participants from the Wenchi District, Kwadaso, and Ejura-Sekyedumase with practical skills and entrepreneurial knowledge to transform their agribusiness ventures.

The three-month training programme forms part of the Nkabom Collaboratives’s broader effort to empower non-tertiary youth already engaged in or aspiring to start businesses within the agricultural value chain. Participants will receive training in Agribusiness Management Principles, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Poultry Production, Tree Crop Cultivation, Value Addition, and Processing, among others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor (Mrs.) Ibok Nsa Oduro, Co-Lead of the Education Pillar of the Nkabom Collaborative, said the initiative was driven by the need to reduce unemployment among Ghanaian youth, especially those outside the tertiary system.

“We thought it prudent not to only focus on those who are tertiary-minded, but also those in the community who are already doing something or have the potential to do more,” she said.

She added that the training is designed to help participants improve their ongoing activities and expand their business potential.

Lead facilitator, Professor Robert Aidoo, described the MIP as a practical intervention aimed at reorienting the mindset of rural youth towards agribusiness as a viable and sustainable career path.

“We are building the capacity of community youth; the idea is to train and reorient them so they begin to think as business people,” he said.

He explained that the programme combines theoretical instruction with hands-on training, followed by industry attachments and post-training support. Participants will be mentored by industry experts and provided with starter packs to help them establish their own enterprises.

According to Professor Aidoo, the MIP model promotes inclusivity, sustainability, and community-based agribusiness development.

“We envision a generation of youth who can create employment opportunities and drive innovation within the agricultural sector,” he said.