Business

Mahama to launch School Farm Initiative in Volta Region on October 21

President John Dramani Mahama is set to launch the School Farm Initiative in the Volta Region on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 — a major government project that will make schools active participants in agriculture while promoting food security and practical learning.

The initiative, which targets over 15,000 acres of farmland across 1,000 schools, is expected to integrate farming into the education system and provide hands-on skills for students.

Announcing this at the ELIGREEN Women and Youth Agribusiness Exhibition Summit (EWAYES 25) in Accra, Dr. Peter Boamah Otukunor, Director of Agricultural Initiatives and Agribusiness at the Office of the President, said the project is part of government’s broader agenda to make agriculture attractive and profitable for the youth.

He explained that another major component of the government’s agricultural plan — a poultry and livestock training programme — will train 20,000 young people in modern animal production to enhance job creation. A separate Youth Agricultural Estate Programme, he added, will focus on large-scale farming, irrigation systems, and market access for young graduates.

Dr. Otukunor appealed to financial institutions to support the projects and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities being rolled out. He described the initiative as “a bold step toward changing the future of Ghana’s agriculture.”

He further revealed that the Dobidi Out-Grower Programme would focus on cultivating 10,000 acres of rice and 50,000 acres of maize while supporting smallholder farmers with inputs and training.

The government, according to Dr. Otukunor, is also introducing the Dobidi Agro-Input Credit and Farmer Financing Platform to connect farmers to credit, technical support, and reliable off-takers — helping remove financial barriers that limit smallholder farmers’ growth.

He noted that women and youth, who make up the backbone of the agricultural sector, still face barriers to capital and markets. “They work the hardest but earn the least. We need systems that empower them to grow,” he said.

Dr. Otukunor commended Sophia Karem Edem Ackuaku, Founder of ELIGREEN Hub and former Member of Parliament for Domeabra-Obom, for her dedication to empowering women and youth in agribusiness. “Her resilience and vision are exactly what Ghana needs,” he stated.

Also speaking at the summit, Evans Darko, Head of SME Banking at Ghana Exim Bank, disclosed that the bank has invested over GH₵50 million in the agricultural value chain, focusing on poultry and rice production over the next five years.

On behalf of ELIGREEN’s Founder, Project Director Prince Ackuaku said the summit aims to break down barriers preventing women and youth from accessing markets, finance, and innovation.

“We are not just discussing agriculture; we are redefining it to make it inclusive and forward-looking,” he said, adding that the initiative represents a new phase of empowerment and opportunity in Ghana’s agricultural transformation.