Inaugural Ghana Grows Agro Fusion Festival sparks enthusiasm among youth in agribusiness

Over 100 agro-entrepreneurs from Ghana's vibrant agribusiness sector gathered at the University of Ghana Athletic Oval in Accra last Friday to participate in the inaugural Ghana Grows Agro Fusion Festival.

Organized by the Springboard Road Show Foundation, in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation, the festival aimed to provide a dynamic platform for players in the agribusiness sector to showcase and sell their products in a lively and entertaining atmosphere.

The event also served a broader purpose by addressing prevailing negative perceptions about agriculture and promoting Agriculture, Technology, Vocational, Educational, and Training (ATVET). One of the key focal points was tackling the issue of youth unemployment in Ghana.

The Executive Director of Springboard Roadshow Foundation, Comfort Ocran, emphasized the importance of encouraging the youth to explore opportunities in the agricultural space for socio-economic development. 

Speaking to GraphicOnline during the festival, she highlighted the festival's role in shedding light on the diverse opportunities in agribusiness and ATVET, showcasing how young people are leveraging these opportunities.

"We seek to bring to the fore what opportunities there are in the agribusiness as well as ATVET space. Additionally, we want to show how young people are taking advantage of the opportunities in that space," said Mrs. Ocran.

The Ghana Grows Programme, spanning three years, comprises a series of interventions designed to inspire young people aged between 15 and 35, particularly young women, to pursue fulfilling careers in agriculture, agribusiness, and technical and vocational sectors.

As part of the Ghana Grows Programme, the partners plan to host training programs for entrepreneurs and provide soft skills training for those interested in the agribusiness sector. 

Mrs. Ocran highlighted the 18 different initiatives available for young people within the program.

A participant at the fair who spoke to GraphicOnline, Mr. Benjamin Twum Barima, the General Manager of Bonne Graine said the festival had provided his outfit with a massive platform to showcase their business and products.

He said Bonne Graine was concerned with the processing of fruits and vegetables to reduce post-harvest losses.