A Vegetable Hub of Excellence aimed at promoting technology-driven agriculture and equipping young people with practical, employable skills has been commissioned at the University of Ghana, through a partnership involving MTN Ghana, the MTN Ghana Foundation, the School of Agriculture, and Defarmercist Group Limited.
Located at the University’s on-campus farm, the facility will serve as a hands-on training centre for students and young people interested in modern vegetable production, agribusiness, and innovative farming technologies.
In his welcome address, the Dean of the School of Agriculture, Prof. Eric Nartey, emphasised the critical role of vegetables in national nutrition and food security, noting that their production requires efficient, mechanised, and sustainable farming methods. He said the School’s collaboration with farmers and strategic partners seeks to promote modern vegetable farming while training the next generation of agripreneurs through multidisciplinary expertise.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Felix A. Asante, stressed the importance of bridging the gap between classroom instruction and practical application. He described agriculture as being at a pivotal stage and noted that the co-creation approach adopted by the University and its partners is essential for advancing sustainable agricultural development. He encouraged prospective trainees to fully utilise the Hub, describing technology-driven agriculture as both the present and future of farming.
Representing the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Kwasi Etu-Bonde, Technical Advisor to the Minister and National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through technology-enabled agriculture. He said the Hub aligns strongly with the objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to stimulate innovation, improve livelihoods, and ensure a sustainable supply of safe, fresh, and competitively priced vegetables.
Mr. Etu-Bonde highlighted the Ministry’s support for partnerships that promote innovation and build a skilled agripreneurial workforce. He described the Hub as a practical demonstration of climate-smart farming, featuring solar-powered groundwater extraction for fertigation, drip irrigation to enhance water-use efficiency, mulching to suppress weeds, composting to recycle nutrients, and vegetable fortification to improve nutrition. He noted that the Centre will train 300 young people in specialised areas including fertigation, pest and disease diagnosis, ecological and protected farming systems, post-harvest management, and mechatronics.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Stephen Blewett, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, disclosed that the company invested GH₵3 million in the five-acre facility, which includes three greenhouses one serving as a nursery training spaces, a 24kW solar power system, two boreholes, four water storage tanks, a fully installed drip irrigation network with digital valves and timers, and open-field beds with mulching and flowering systems.
“This centre demonstrates that modern farming is a viable, lucrative, and high-tech career,” Mr. Blewett said, encouraging students, academics, and young entrepreneurs to fully utilise the Hub. He added that MTN remains committed to digital inclusion across the agricultural value chain, including extension services, input management, food processing, and women empowerment.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Board Chairman of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Mr. Samuel Koranteng highlighted the Foundation’s 18-year track record of supporting national development across multiple sectors. He described the Vegetable Hub as the Foundation’s first major agricultural investment, noting that it has already trained over 180 second-year agriculture students, unemployed youth, and participants from the Nkabom Youth Initiative, and has created more than 10 direct jobs.
Mr. Koranteng said the project serves as a replicable model for nationwide agricultural development and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to integrating digital tools into farming to boost productivity and food security.
A statement delivered on behalf of the Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, by Prof. Kwabena Doku-Amponsah, commended MTN Ghana and its Foundation for placing youth and women at the centre of agricultural transformation, describing the initiative as a significant step toward sustainable livelihoods.
Sustainability messages were delivered by Madam Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, and Dr. Naa Lamle Amissah, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Crop Science. They noted that the initiative aligns with national priorities and MTN’s strategy to reduce unemployment through agripreneurship, adding that opportunities for scale-up would be explored after assessing the project’s first phase.
During a guided tour of the facility, Mr. Charles Agyemang, Co-Founder and General Manager of Defarmercist Group Limited, provided an overview of the training programmes being rolled out and encouraged students and young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the Hub’s hands-on learning opportunities.
A testimonial by Kanortey Wahiermeh, a Level 400 student and intern at the Hub, highlighted the practical skills acquired through the programme, including seed nursing, transplanting, and the use of modern farming tools and technologies. He expressed appreciation to MTN Ghana and the MTN Ghana Foundation for supporting the initiative.
A short documentary showcasing the purpose and progress of the project was screened during the ceremony. The Vegetable Hub of Excellence is expected to make a significant contribution to Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda by combining technology, training, and innovation to develop a new generation of agripreneurs and strengthen vegetable production nationwide.
