Crops

Ghana equips five agricultural colleges with digital tools to advance precision farming. (Image source: MoFA)

Ghana’s minister for food and agriculture, Eric Opoku, has called for modern technologies and practical digital skills to become an integral part of agricultural education, equipping young professionals to meet the changing demands of the country’s agriculture sector

He made the call on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, at Kwadaso Agricultural College in Kumasi during the handover of advanced agricultural technology equipment and tools to five agricultural colleges under the Strengthening Digital Agriculture Skills Initiative.

The initiative is being implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE), the five beneficiary colleges and other stakeholders. It is funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The beneficiary institutions are Kwadaso, Wenchi, Ejura, Damongo and Ohawu Agricultural Colleges.

Addressing the gathering,  Eric Opoku said the initiative represented more than the delivery of equipment, highlighting its role in developing knowledge, skills and innovation among young people.

“What we are witnessing today goes beyond the handover of agricultural equipment. It represents an investment in knowledge, skills, innovation and, most importantly, in the young men and women who will shape the future of Ghanaian agriculture.”

He explained that the equipment would give students practical exposure to technologies increasingly used in modern farming, including data-driven decision-making, soil and moisture monitoring, weather information and precision agriculture.

The equipment comprises soil testers, moisture meters, greenhouse environmental control kits, Internet of Things (IoT) sensor kits, weather stations, GPS devices, computers, 15 mini drones, drone flight and agricultural spraying simulators, and agricultural data-processing software.

The Minister emphasised that agricultural training must keep pace with technological developments across the sector.

“We cannot address the agricultural challenges of today using only the tools and approaches of yesterday,” he said.

He urged college principals and instructors to incorporate the equipment into their teaching and practical training programmes, ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to work with the technologies.

He also thanked WFP, KOICA, GI-KACE, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and other partners for their support.

Digital skills for the next generation of agricultural professionals

KOICA Ghana country director Dong Wan Woo said the handover was part of the KOICA-WFP partnership on Youth Economic Empowerment through Digitalization for Resilience in Food and Nutrition Security and Improved Livelihoods.

"The real value of this equipment depends on how it is used," he said, urging the colleges to incorporate the tools into practical training and ensure proper maintenance.

He added that Korea's own development experience had demonstrated "the importance of investing in people, skills and technology," reaffirming KOICA's commitment to working with the Government and people of Ghana.

Dong noted that the rapid transformation of agriculture made practical experience with modern technologies increasingly important for young professionals, alongside their classroom education. He encouraged the colleges to use and maintain the equipment effectively to maximise its benefits for students.

Project coordinator Kyore Yoo explained that the initiative had identified shortcomings in digital infrastructure, learning resources and students' practical exposure to emerging agricultural technologies across the five colleges.

He said GI-KACE, in collaboration with CTVET and other stakeholders, had developed a competency-based Digital Agriculture Training Programme. The curriculum covers smart agriculture, digital literacy, data-driven decision-making, precision agriculture and digital agribusiness.

Kyore encouraged students to develop their skills in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving, emphasising their potential role in shaping the future of Ghanaian agriculture.

“You are not simply being trained to participate in agriculture as it exists today. You are being prepared to help shape the agriculture that Ghana will depend on tomorrow.”

Training instructors to support digital agriculture

The initiative will also provide further training for instructors and tutors to support the effective integration of digital technologies into agricultural education.

A five-day Training of Trainers programme is planned for instructors and tutors, followed by specialised training in drone simulators and data-processing software.

Instructors will also receive practical drone training through the University of Mines and Technology to support certification by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

India and Ghana partner on tomato research and agricultural technology.

India and Ghana have formalised a partnership to advance agricultural research, education and technology transfer through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and Ghana’s Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Accra

The agreement reinforces India’s commitment to South-South cooperation and collaboration with African countries.

The five-year agreement establishes a framework for joint agricultural research, scientific and technological exchanges, capacity building, and the application and commercialisation of agricultural technologies. Arima Farms Ltd., Ghana, facilitated the collaboration and has been recognised as CSIR-CRI’s commercial partner for specific research and commercialisation activities under the framework.

The initial phase will prioritise vegetable crop research, particularly tomato research and development. ICAR will support the wider application of proven agricultural technologies and the introduction of suitable, high-yielding tomato lines and varieties to help strengthen domestic tomato production in Ghana.

The partnership will also address the processing and value addition of cassava, yam and other tuber crops, with the aim of strengthening agricultural value chains. Additional areas of cooperation include post-harvest management, with technical assistance and capacity building in cold storage, refrigerated transport, sorting, grading and processing technologies to help reduce post-harvest losses.

Under the MoU, the two institutions will facilitate exchanges of scientists and technologists, germplasm and breeding materials, scientific information, methodologies and technical expertise. The agreement also provides for the development and implementation of collaborative research projects and the establishment of institutional links between relevant research institutes and centres in both countries to support long-term scientific cooperation.

Implementation will be overseen by a Joint Working Group comprising representatives of ICAR and CSIR-CRI. The group will assess progress, guide activities under the agreement and meet periodically in New Delhi and Accra.

By connecting agricultural research with technology development, skills development and commercial application, the partnership aims to facilitate the adoption of relevant agricultural technologies, support sustainable agricultural development and improve livelihoods in Ghana.

Oikocredit backs Tanzanian agritech firm East Africa Foods to reduce food loss and improve smallholder farmers’ incomes. (Image source: Oikocredit)

Social impact investor Oikocredit has invested in Tanzanian agritech company East Africa Foods (EAF) as part of a funding round worth approximately US$40mn to strengthen climate-resilient food supply chains across East Africa

The investment will support EAF’s expansion, reduce food loss and improve market access and incomes for up to 100,000 smallholder farmers over the coming years.

The funding will help expand EAF’s processing, storage and logistics infrastructure, alongside its digital platform. It will also enable the company to enter new markets and develop more efficient and sustainable connections between farmers and urban retailers.

Oikocredit participated in EAF’s US$26mn Series B equity round, led by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through its equity investment solution, InfraCo, alongside FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank. Existing shareholders ARAF, Goodwell, Africa Eats and FINCA also reinvested.

The equity round forms part of a broader capital raise of approximately US$40mn, which includes investment from existing shareholders and debt funding from the Schmidt Family Foundation.

EKTA Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor for the transaction.

Building more resilient food supply chains

In Kenya and Tanzania, up to 40% of food produced is lost before reaching consumers. Much of this loss occurs after harvest because of inadequate aggregation, grading, storage and reliable transport infrastructure. These gaps affect the prices smallholder farmers receive for their produce and the prices urban families pay for food.

East Africa Foods was established to address these challenges by connecting farmers directly with urban retailers through an integrated supply chain. The company currently sources produce from more than 28,000 registered smallholder farmers and provides aggregation, grading, storage, processing and distribution services to more than 10,000 urban retailers.

EAF has reduced food loss by a third across its own network. Its produce reaches consumers under the group’s brands, including Onja and Golden Banana.

With the new investment, EAF plans to strengthen its presence across East Africa while exploring opportunities to enter additional markets. Its long-term ambition is to develop African-owned and African-operated food supply chain infrastructure that can withstand the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Investing in sustainable growth and lasting impact

“At Oikocredit, we believe that building climate-resilient food systems requires investment in the infrastructure that connects farmers to markets efficiently and sustainably. EAF’s integrated aggregation, storage, processing, and distribution platform helps reduce food loss across the value chain, strengthen food security for growing urban populations, and improve the resilience and incomes of smallholder farmers, commented Samuel Kibiri, senior equity officer at Oikocredit.

"By improving supply chain efficiency and creating value across the food system, EAF is well positioned to deliver lasting impact, sustainable growth, and attractive financial returns as it scales across East Africa. We are proud to support EAF on this journey and to invest alongside like-minded partners.”

Elia Timotheo, founder and CEO of East Africa Foods, said, “A third of what our farmers grow never reaches anyone’s table. That is not a farming problem: it is an infrastructure problem, and it is solvable. For the past three years we have been building the layer this market is missing: the sourcing network, the fleet, the storage, and the technology that sit between a smallholder farm and an urban shelf. This investment enables us to further improve and scale this physical and digital infrastructure. We would like to thank our investors for their support in scaling this vital infrastructure.”

Claire Jarratt, PIDG head of investment management for InfraCo, stated, “EAF’s offering aligns well with PIDG’s mandate to deliver inclusive, climate-resilient growth across the countries in which we operate. Strengthening EAF’s presence in Tanzania, and expanding its efficient, data-driven business into Kenya, will enable the company to mobilise future finance into this vital sector, underpinning improved food security across the region.”

Alongside expanding its physical infrastructure, EAF will extend training for smallholder farmers in climate-smart production methods and further develop the digital systems connecting farmers, branches and retailers. Developed in Tanzania, these systems are designed for deployment in new markets as the company expands.

Up to 100,000 smallholder farmers, 45% of them women, are expected to benefit from higher and more predictable incomes and improved climate resilience. Urban retailers are also expected to benefit from improved quality control, product traceability and more reliable access to fresh produce through EAF’s formalised supply chains.

Peter Byrde, director private equity at FMO, said, “Through our partnership with East Africa Foods, we have seen how investments in logistics, storage, processing, and digital solutions can reduce food loss, improve market access, and increase income opportunities for smallholder farmers. That’s why FMO is pleased to support EAF’s next phase of growth as it expands critical supply chain infrastructure across the region, helping to build a more efficient, resilient, and inclusive food system. By demonstrating a scalable and commercially viable model for agri-logistics, we believe EAF can help catalyse greater private sector investment into the sector and pave the way for increased commercial funding in the years ahead.”

Africa’s seed summit calls for greater investment, climate-resilient crops and improved access to quality seeds for farmers. (Image source: African Union)

Africa must strengthen its capacity to produce quality seed and ensure farmers receive the investment and support needed to build a more secure and self-reliant food future

This was the central message from His Majesty King Mswati III and African Union Commission (AUC) deputy chairperson H.E. ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi at the inaugural Africa Seed Summit in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini.

Their addresses linked Africa’s agricultural ambitions to the needs of farmers seeking reliable harvests, young people looking for economic opportunities, and households requiring a dependable supply of nutritious food.

Officially opening the Summit on 6 October 2026, His Majesty emphasised that seed is fundamental to Africa’s food sovereignty. He highlighted how decisions about seed production, ownership and investment will influence the continent’s agricultural future.

“No fertilizer, irrigation or machinery can make up for poor seed,” His Majesty said.

Convened by the African Union Commission and hosted by the Kingdom of Eswatini from 5 to 7 October 2026, the Summit was held under the theme “Resilient Seed Systems for a Food Secure Africa”.

Building Africa’s capacity to feed itself

His Majesty urged African countries to build on their agricultural strengths and collaborate to increase the continent’s food production.

“Each nation must maximise the crops for which it is best suited and where one country shows particular strength, the other Member States must support it, because all of us are Africans. In the end, what we want is to see a successful Africa that is food secure,” he said.

He outlined a coordinated approach involving soil testing, investment in dams and irrigation, improved storage facilities and transport links to facilitate food movement between African markets. He also highlighted the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area and called on financial institutions and development partners to support viable agricultural projects.

His Majesty emphasised the need to conserve Africa’s indigenous genetic resources and develop climate-resilient crop varieties. These efforts would help farmers address drought, pests and other production challenges while preserving resources for future generations.

Drawing on Eswatini’s experience, he highlighted improvements to the national gene bank, efforts to multiply seed and germplasm, and training that had enabled some farmer groups to begin small-scale seed production. He also welcomed further investment and knowledge-sharing with other African countries.

He urged Member States to ensure that agreed programmes translate into practical results.

“Frameworks that remain on paper feed no one,” His Majesty said.

Making progress count for farmers

Ambassador Haddadi, representing AUC Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasised that implementation must prioritise farmers’ access to quality seed.

She called for investment in research, plant breeding, seed testing, certification and extension services, alongside support for seed enterprises capable of reaching farmers more effectively.

Many farmers continue to face difficulties obtaining suitable seed before planting at affordable prices. Addressing this challenge requires stronger institutions and reliable services, while creating opportunities for women and young people to participate in seed production, innovation and business.

Ambassador Haddadi also urged governments and development partners to strengthen connections between formal and farmer-managed seed systems, recognising their respective contributions to agricultural production, biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

“Let us therefore leave Ezulwini with renewed determination to translate commitments into action, partnerships into investments, and strategies into measurable results,” she said.

Her message highlighted the importance of measuring continental progress through tangible improvements in farmers’ fields, incomes and resilience.

Turning shared ambitions into action

The Ezulwini Outcome Document, adopted by ministers, establishes commitments to improve affordable and timely access to quality seed and planting materials, particularly for smallholder farmers, women and young people.

The commitments include increased investment in plant breeding, research and seed enterprises, alongside support for productive, nutritious and climate-resilient crop varieties that meet farmers’ needs.

The document also recognises farmer-managed seed systems as an essential component of Africa’s agricultural capacity. It calls for support for community seed banks, farmer networks and local enterprises, the protection of farmers’ rights, and the fair sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

Ministers also requested the development of an integrated African Seed and Gene Bank System, including a continental institution working alongside national and regional gene banks. The proposed system is intended to strengthen conservation and support the use of Africa’s plant genetic resources in research and future agricultural production.

Efforts to harmonise seed policies and standards and reduce barriers to intra-African seed trade are intended to improve access to quality seed across national borders. Ministers also called for increased public and private investment, coordinated implementation and regular monitoring of progress.

The outcome document and its recommendations will be submitted through the appropriate African Union policy organs for consideration, validation and formal endorsement.

At the closing ceremony, H.E. Moses Vilakati, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, welcomed the consensus reached on recommendations to guide the next phase of work to strengthen Africa’s seed systems.

He described the adopted document as the beginning of a new implementation phase and a roadmap for collaboration among the African Union Commission, Member States, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, research institutions, farmers’ organisations and the private sector.