A new Vegetable Hub of Excellence designed to promote technology-driven agriculture and equip young people with practical skills has been commissioned through a joint initiative involving MTN Ghana, the MTN Ghana Foundation, the School of Agriculture of the University of Ghana and Defarmercist Group Limited.
Located at the University of Ghana’s on-campus farm, the facility will serve as a hands-on training platform for students and young people interested in modern vegetable crop production, agribusiness and innovative farming technologies.
In his welcome address at the event held to commission the facility, Prof. Eric Nartey, Dean of the School of Agriculture, underscored the importance of vegetables as essential food sources whose production demands mechanised and efficient farming techniques. He said the School is collaborating with farmers and strategic partners to promote sustainable farming practices, particularly in vegetable production. According to him, the Hub offers an opportunity to train future agripreneurs while leveraging multidisciplinary expertise to enhance national food production.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Felix A. Asante, highlighted the need to bridge the gap between classroom learning and hands-on practice.
He noted that agriculture stands at a crossroads and the co-creation approach adopted by the University and its partners is vital for advancing sustainable agricultural development. He encouraged prospective trainees to take full advantage of the opportunities at the Hub, stressing that technology-driven agriculture represents both the present and future of farming.
Representing the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Kwasi Etu-Bonde, Technical Advisor to the Minister and National Coordinator for the Feed Ghana Programme, reaffirmed government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through technology-enabled agriculture. He said the Vegetable Hub of Excellence “aligns strongly with the Government’s vision under the Feed Ghana Programme to expand opportunities for young people, stimulate innovation and improve livelihoods,” adding that the initiative ensures Ghana’s growing demand for “safe, fresh and competitively priced vegetables can be met sustainably and locally.”
Mr. Etu-Bonde highlighted the Ministry’s support for partnerships that promote innovation and build a skilled agripreneurial workforce. He described the Hub as a practical demonstration of climate-smart farming, citing its “solar-powered groundwater extraction for fertigation, drip irrigation to enhance water-use efficiency, mulching to suppress weeds, composting to recycle nutrients and the fortification of vegetables to improve nutrition.” These interventions, he said, represent “the future of horticulture in Ghana, efficient, climate-smart and commercially viable.”
He further announced that the Centre will train 300 young people in specialised areas such as fertigation, pest and disease diagnosis, ecological and protected farming systems, post-harvest management and mechatronics. According to him, this represents “the kind of skills pipeline we need to build the next generation of agripreneurs.” He commended the partnership between the School of Agriculture, Defarmercist Group Limited and the MTN Ghana Foundation, stressing that such collaborations create dignified employment and contribute significantly to national development.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Stephen Blewett, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, highlighted the company’s GH₵3 million investment in the Vegetable Hub of Excellence, a five-acre facility featuring three greenhouses (one serving as a nursery), training spaces, a 24kW solar power system, two boreholes, four water storage tanks, a fully installed drip irrigation network with digital valves and timers, plus open-field beds equipped with mulching and flowering systems.
“This centre demonstrates that modern farming is a viable, lucrative and high-tech career,” he said. “With today’s tools and innovations, agriculture can become a rewarding and exciting venture.” He encouraged the public to consider farming as a side business.
Mr. Blewett urged students, academics and young entrepreneurs to fully utilise the resources at the Hub, describing them as essential for leading Ghana’s agricultural transformation. He detailed that his outfit is committed to digital inclusion that extends to agriculture and women empowerment, supporting training across the entire food production value chain, including extension services, input management and food processing.
Delivering the MTN Ghana Foundation’s message on behalf of the Board Chairman, Mr. Samuel Koranteng highlighted the impact of the Foundation over the past 18 years across various sectors. He said that although the Foundation has supported numerous thematic areas, the Vegetable Hub stands out as its first major agricultural project, expected to contribute significantly to national development and the country’s food security agenda.
Mr. Koranteng explained that the Hub is a fully installed drip irrigation network connected to digital valves and timers and also includes developed open-field plots and dedicated training facilities. He noted that the Centre has already trained “more than 180 second-year Agriculture students, unemployed youth and participants from the Nkabom Youth Initiative,” and has created over 10 new jobs for individuals working at the hub.
He described the project as the Foundation’s first major investment in agriculture and reaffirmed MTN’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower young people with employable skills. “This Vegetable Hub of Excellence stands as a model that can be replicated nationwide,” he said, adding that the Foundation remains committed to integrating digital tools into farming to boost productivity and food security. “We hope this hub will equip a new generation of agripreneurs with practical and transformative skills to enhance Ghana’s food system.”
A statement delivered on behalf of Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, by the Dean of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Prof. Kwabena Doku-Amponsah, lauded MTN Ghana and its Foundation for supporting a project that places youth and women at the centre of agricultural transformation. He described the initiative as a significant step toward sustainable livelihoods and long-term sectoral development.
Madam Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana and Dr. Naa Lamle Amissah, Senior Lecturer, Department of Crop Science, delivered sustainability messages explaining that the initiative aligns with national priorities and MTN’s strategy to promote inclusivity while reducing unemployment through agripreneurship. They added that scale-up opportunities will be explored after assessing the first phase of the project.
UG Alumnus, Mr. Charles Agyemang, who is Co-Founder and General Manager of Defarmercist Group Limited, provided an overview of the facility during a guided tour. He highlighted the various training programmes being rolled out at the Hub and invited students and young entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunities for hands-on learning and skill development.
A testimonial by Kanortey Wahiermeh, a Level 400 student and intern at the Hub, highlighted the practical skills acquired through the programme, including seed nursing, transplanting and the use of modern farm implements and technologies. He expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana and the Foundation for supporting the development of the Hub.
A short documentary showcasing the purpose and progress of the project was screened during the programme. The Vegetable Hub of Excellence is expected to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda by combining technology, training and innovation to develop a new generation of agripreneurs and improve vegetable production in the country.
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