Ghana’s Agric Sector to Benefit from $9.3 Million Project

The United Nations in Ghana, through the World Food Programme (WFP), has received funding support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to enhance access to digital technology for youth, empowering them to build resilience in food systems, improve nutrition, and enhance livelihoods.

The project, themed “Youth Economic Empowerment through Digitalization for Resilience in Food and Nutrition Security and Improved Livelihoods Program,” aims to improve nutritional status and food security for 15,500 Ghanaians. It will provide essential digital skills and tools, including mobile technologies, precision farming systems, and digital platforms, to promote smart agricultural practices and encourage healthy lifestyles.

The initiative will be implemented in 56 districts across six regions: Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Savannah, and Greater Accra.

As part of Ghana’s broader strategy to enhance access to digital technology, the project will specifically target youth, including women and persons with disabilities, to increase economic participation and strengthen resilience in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods.

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Jacqueline Namyalo, Head of Business Transformation at WFP, stated that the project is designed to engage key stakeholders, including policymakers in government agencies responsible for food and nutrition, health, and digitalization, as well as KOICA-affiliated stakeholders and the media.

She noted that the project will also collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Development Planning Commission, the School Feeding Secretariat, the Ghana Health Service, and the private sector.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Paul Asiamah, who delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister, highlighted the project’s timely intervention amid challenges such as youth unemployment, food insecurity, and the growing impact of climate change on the agricultural sector.

“We have all witnessed the low rainfall in recent times, bringing us close to drought conditions that have affected crop production. As a nation, we must embrace innovative solutions, and this project presents a transformative approach through digital technology-driven interventions in the agriculture sector,” he stated.

The Korean Ambassador to Ghana emphasized that the project’s main objective is to contribute to food and nutrition security while minimizing the environmental impact of climate change and improving livelihoods.

By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline