Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has launched a GHS 100 million agricultural fund. This new fund, called the Ghana Agriculture Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET), aims to support the government’s plan to modernise farming. It will build a lasting national resource to help develop skills, encourage new ideas, and improve the use of machines in agriculture.
The GAFET will also invest in schools and training centres that prepare agricultural engineers, researchers, and business leaders. This investment is crucial because transforming agriculture depends on having well-trained people. These individuals will design, operate, and maintain modern farming systems. The fund seeks to address the need for renewed investment in laboratories, workshops, and modern equipment at these institutions.
This initiative fits into Ghana's larger economic strategy to boost food production and reduce reliance on imported goods. The government's Feed Ghana Programme aims to increase food output, modernise farming methods, and expand irrigation. It also promotes processing farm products, creates jobs, and boosts exports. Strengthening agricultural education is a key part of this national effort to achieve food security and economic growth.
Minister Opoku emphasised the need for strong collaboration between public and private sectors. He stated that agricultural education must combine strong theoretical knowledge with practical skills. This will enable graduates to effectively respond to challenges faced by farmers and agribusinesses. He called for partnerships beyond government to achieve the fund's goals.
Mr. Opoku highlighted that an initial GHS 3.5 million has already been raised. Five agribusinesses, including Grow For Me, Agrisol, Thermaline, New Age AgriSolutions, and Trade Line Consort, contributed to this initial amount. The immediate goal is to increase the fund to GHS 10 million by December 2026. The long-term target is to reach GHS 100 million by December 2028.
The fund will operate under a clear and open management structure. This structure includes a governing board, an independent administrator, a licensed fund manager, and a custodian bank. An independent external auditor will also oversee its operations. This setup ensures accountability and proper use of the funds.
Steven Nhyira Odarteifio, the Co-Coordinator of GAFET, stressed that Ghana cannot modernise its agriculture without first improving its training institutions. He noted that many agricultural graduates lack hands-on experience with modern machinery and irrigation systems. GAFET will support 21 beneficiary institutions through investments in various areas. These include laboratories, workshops, demonstration farms, and modern machinery. It will also fund research, digital learning tools, scholarships, internships, and industrial attachments. This comprehensive approach aims to equip the future agricultural workforce with essential practical skills.