MTN Ghana, in partnership with the University of Ghana and Defarmercist Group Limited, has opened the Vegetable Centre of Excellence at the University of Ghana School of Agriculture. The initiative aims to support skills development, modern production systems, and technology adoption among young growers.
MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett said the programme aligns with national efforts to integrate technology into agriculture. "No farmers, no food," he said, adding that MTN is expanding its work in digitizing supply chains and increasing financial access for unbanked farmers through MTN Mobile Money. He noted that the MTN Foundation has trained more than 200 rural women since 2022 in digital farming, mechanization, drip irrigation, and fertigation. "If we don't integrate technology, agriculture will remain outdated," he said.
MTN Ghana has invested GH₵3 million (about US$202,000) in the centre. The five-acre, or roughly two-hectare, facility includes three greenhouses, one serving as a nursery, training areas, a 24 kW solar power system, two boreholes, water storage tanks, drip irrigation with digital valves and timers, and open-field plots with mulching systems. "This centre demonstrates that modern farming is a viable, lucrative, and high-tech career," Blewett said.
The Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, said the company's net zero target for 2040 informs the design of the solar-powered facility. She added that the centre will offer short courses and support youth employment.
MTN Foundation Board Member Samuel Koranteng described the project as an expansion of the foundation's work in education and economic empowerment. He said more than 182 agriculture students have already received practical training at the site, and the facility has created over ten jobs.
Senior Lecturer Dr Naa Lamle Amissah described the centre as a combined training facility and incubator. "Its success will be measured not only in harvests but in the confidence of students who see agriculture as a career," she said.
Kwasi Etu-Bonde, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the centre supports the Feed Ghana Programme. He highlighted the expected training of 300 young entrepreneurs and the use of fertigation, drip irrigation, mulching, and nutrient recycling.
Defarmercist co-founder Charles Agyemang said the aim is to ensure graduates gain employable skills for commercial farming. "This Centre provides practical experience in modern farming and prepares students for commercial agriculture," he said.
The facility is intended to expand technology-driven vegetable production and provide training pathways for growers. It was launched ahead of Ghana's national Farmers' Day celebration.
Source: News Ghana
