The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has partnered with Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana’s cocoa and horticulture sectors.
The initiative focuses on enhancing the cocoa value chain while promoting youth entrepreneurship and innovative learning strategies in higher education.
A key feature of the collaboration is the Cocoa Innovation Hackathon, which will engage students in developing creative solutions to challenges within the cocoa industry.
The event is expected to strengthen ties between academia and the private sector and inspire students to explore agribusiness opportunities.
Mr. Mike Sips, a representative of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, underscored the importance of linking academia with the private sector in both Ghana and the Netherlands.
“We are trying to bring in the private sector, both the Netherlands private sector and that of Ghana, and link them better with students and universities to help solve common challenges,” he noted.
He further emphasized that the project aims to stimulate entrepreneurship among students by broadening their understanding of the cocoa sector.
“We really hope to help students see that working in the cocoa sector is much more than just being on the farm. There are so many opportunities, technology, innovation, and business development are all part of it.”
“We must work together to help the talent of the future gain awareness, understanding, and opportunities for employment. The government cannot absorb everyone, so businesses must begin to see the value of highly trained young talent.” he added.
The Provost of CANR, Prof. Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, welcomed the partnership, describing it as an important step toward making agriculture more appealing to the youth.
“We believe the hackathon is one of the ways to make agriculture more attractive. We also want to identify business opportunities within the cocoa sector. Interestingly, some of the youths are already taking advantage of such opportunities and doing very well.”
Prof. Dr. Loes Witteveen of Van Hall Larenstein University highlighted the shared commitment between Ghana and the Netherlands toward sustainability and youth engagement in agriculture.
“We share a strong commitment to sustainability, long-term vision, and youth development. Across the world, youth are leaving agriculture, especially in the primary sector. If that continues, who will sustain agriculture? It won’t be robots taking over everything—it’s an illusion.”
She expressed appreciation to the Provost and the College for the warm reception and reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to deepening collaboration.
The partnership emphasizes sustainable cocoa production, addressing pressing issues such as youth migration from agriculture, illegal mining, and trust deficits in farming practices.
Plans are also underway to establish a demonstration center to showcase agricultural innovations and strengthen trade relations between Ghana and the Netherlands.
Leading the CANR team, Dr. Eli Gaveh noted that the collaboration is a significant step toward creating business opportunities within the cocoa value chain, promoting technology adoption, and fostering international partnerships.
Comments