Over 2,000 youth to be trained annually in smart farming to curb imports

The programme is open to all, regardless of educational background

Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited, in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the National Service Scheme (NSS), has launched a free youth agricultural training programme aimed at reducing vegetable imports by at least 20%.

The initiative, which trains over 2,000 young people annually at centres in Dawhenya, Bawjiase, and Akim Oda, focuses on smart agriculture, agribusiness, greenhouse farming, export compliance, and financial literacy.

Participants receive free meals, accommodation, and are expected to earn monthly allowances once production begins. Trainees also receive land, inputs, and guaranteed markets for their produce, with Maphlix committing to buy-back agreements.

Dr Felix Kamassah, CEO of Maphlix and President of the Ghana Vegetable Producers Association, said the programme aims to make agriculture a viable business for youth, not just a fallback option.

“We want to train business owners, not job seekers,” he stated at the Dawhenya training centre.

The programme is open to all, regardless of educational background, and adopts a rotational model of morning classes and afternoon fieldwork, currently accommodating over 700 trainees.

Backed by the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Innovation (HAPI) programme, the initiative is also supported by Ghana Enterprises Agency, Catholic Relief Services, and other partners.

Dr Elizabeth Zotorvie of NSS, who leads HAPI, noted that the programme aligns with the NSS’s job creation agenda by deploying graduates to practical roles across agricultural value chains.

Participants lauded the programme’s hands-on approach and its role in promoting gender equity and climate-smart agriculture.

Graduates will receive certification, access to finance, and land under an in-grower system, with support to start and manage their own agribusiness ventures.