Ghana will host an agricultural exchange programme for University Students from Delaware State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore from the US.
The students are to visit Ghana, on a collaborative agricultural and cultural exchange programme on May 23.
The visit is collaboration between Concern Universal Ghana and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Others are the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Volta River Estates Limited Banana farms, Crop Research Institute, Agribusiness Television and Adom Farmers Group.
Ms Francisca Ansah, Agricultural Livelihoods and Food Security Coordinator at Concern Universal, Ghana, said in an interview in Accra with the Ghana News Agency, that the study abroad programme to Ghana would provide the students with international experience in the areas of food, agriculture, natural resources and related sciences.
She said whilst Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of population growth in the world, it has the least agricultural resources, weakening its capacity to feed itself.
Ms Ansah said study abroad exchange programmes in the agriculture sector of the country is very minimal among students.
This, she said minimises the international perspective to the development of innovative technologies to boost productivity.
“In the national interest and the interest of global food security, it is important to create and strengthen partnerships between institutions in the United States and Ghana,” she said.
Ms Ansah said “the core experience will consist of a three- week visit by students from Delaware State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to Ghana”.
She said the students would have the opportunity to interact with government officials, university under-graduate and graduate students, small businesses, farm and livestock operations and rural communities.
Students participating in the programme are expected to gain a holistic understanding of the culture and agriculture of Ghana, and also build their collaborative capacities.