Agriculture is life, needs investment– Joe Mensah

Chairman of the Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), Mr Joe Mensah says agriculture is life to nations just as water is to humans, hence the needed investment must go into it to ensure food security.

He said the population of Ghana was a huge one, that needed agricultural sustainability and food security to survive and thrive, therefore threats from varied sources like climate change and market inefficiency did not augur well for the country.

Mr Mensah made the remark at the second “Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference” by KIC in Accra on the theme: “Empowering Youth Startups and Agri-MSMEs in Africa: Advancing Food Security through Innovation and Collaboration.”

He said the youth, especially women were filled with innovations and could help to ensure food security when given the opportunity and support.

“I always say that give more women the position or give them all the opportunity and resources, and they will do a better job to make the world a better place,” he said.

Mr Isaac Acquah, the National Project Coordinator, Ghana, NTF V-ITC, said more measures should be put in place to secure livelihoods and ensure food security considering the consequences of climate change on agriculture.

He said the nation’s Gross Domestic Product was highly dependent on agriculture, hence Ghana needed to do ground-breaking works with much focus on the youth and women.

“There are females doing ground-breaking works in agriculture. There are also several opportunities for the youth and one doesn’t have to come from agriculture background to add value to the industry,” he said and urged all stakeholders to be active participants in the value-chain.

He called on all for collaboration and the youth to be at the forefront of the food and agricultural system to make Ghana and West Africa a beacon of agriculture innovation.

Mr Robert Asugre, the Country Director, IDH (Sustainable Trade Initiative), in a presentation made on his behalf, said food insecurity stood at 11.7 per cent (representing 3.6 million people of the total population).

However, Ghana’s agriculture sector was heavily impacted by climate change, weather patterns, and increased temperatures, he said.

In Ghana, he said, an estimated 44.7 per cent of the work force, were employed in the agriculture sector of which almost 30 per cent were youth between 15 and 35 years old.

Mr Asugre urged the youth to join and embrace the many opportunities in the sector such as innovation and technology adoption, innovative practices, entrepreneurship opportunities, advocacy and policy influence, education and capacity building, community engagement and advocacy, partnerships with organisations, research and development and resilience building.

He mentioned limited policy inclusion and representation, lack of access to resources and funding, knowledge and skills gaps, infrastructure limitations, climate change vulnerability, socioeconomic inequalities, cultural perceptions and stigma, and demographic change, arising from a growing urban middle class as some of the challenges confronting the sector.

To harness the potential of the youth in transforming Ghana’s food systems under climate change, Mr Asugre called for a policy support that prioritised youth engagement in Agriculture, investment in education, access to finance and network opportunities.

An intentional investment in youth and Agri-SMEs, he said was “our best bet” for sustainable food system transformation.

“We need to clear upfront on what we want, increase investments in market infrastructure and other incentive mechanisms,” he added.

Dr Betty Annan, the Country Director, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), speaking on “Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Food Systems,” said women across the continent experienced lower employment in agriculture and 20 to 30 per cent lower yields than men.

In addition, women-led agri-SMEs experienced 20 to 34 per cent lower business profitability.

 She said women were the backbone of agricultural communities, hence it was imperative to recognise the vital role they played in agriculture.

“They are often responsible for most of the food production, processing, and marketing. Despite this, women frequently face significant barriers that limit their participation in decision-making processes, access to resources, and opportunities for growth,” she said.

Dr Annan explained that mainstreaming gender in the country’s agricultural strategies was not just a matter of fairness; but a strategic imperative for building more productive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.

“When women are empowered and given equal opportunities, they can significantly enhance productivity, improve household food security, household income, and contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices,” she said.

Credit: GNA