Stakeholders in agriculture and engineering have urged the Government to strengthen policy and institutional support for local agro‑industrial innovations to boost productivity and create jobs.
They said scaling up support for locally developed agro‑processing technologies would improve access to equipment, reduce post‑harvest losses, and promote industrialisation.
The call was made on the sidelines of the Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The three‑day fair, organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in collaboration with the Ghana Export‑Import Bank, is on the theme “Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology.”
Mr. Patrick Quansah, Director of Engineering at the Gratis Foundation, said the institution had designed and manufactured agro‑processing equipment to improve efficiency in the agricultural value chain.
“These machines help reduce time, labour and energy consumption during processing. They are meant to improve efficiency and increase productivity for agro‑processors,” he said.
Mr Quansah said between 60 and 70 per cent of machine components were locally produced, making the equipment relatively affordable for small and medium‑scale enterprises and cottage processors.
He said that the machines, including maize threshers, soya bean threshers, shea nut crushers, shea butter kneaders and fruit juice extractors, had been widely used with positive feedback.
“Because the machines are made locally, they can easily be repaired and maintained, and spare parts are available,” he said.
Mr. Quansah identified access to food‑grade stainless steel as a key challenge, noting that it had to be imported, increasing production costs.
“We need policies that will promote Made‑in‑Ghana machines so that farmers across the country can easily access them,” he said, and called for increased support for local manufacturing institutions and retooling of regional engineering centres to meet growing demand.
Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as agricultural drones were showcased at the exhibition.
Mr. Dan Mensah, Senior Technician in charge of drones at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Learning Centre, said drone technology could significantly improve agricultural productivity.
“With this technology, farmers can spray large areas in a short time. It makes farming easier and more attractive, especially to the youth,” he said.
Mr. Mensah said the university was collaborating with Agri‑Impact Limited to train young people in drone technology, coding, agribusiness and digital tools.
“Agriculture is not only for the aged. With technology, it has become a modern and profitable sector,” he said.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com