UN University Institute for Natural Resources shortlists 30 Ghanaian youth to develop clean agricultural technology

Thirty young innovators have been shortlisted by the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, a UN research arm at the University of Ghana, Legon, to create clean/green agricultural technology to address difficulties in agriculture.

The 30 youths, most of them women, were selected out of 100 applicants and the number will further be pruned down to 10 for for the final. The winner in producing an acceptable green technology will be given $34,000 to scale up the product and assist in marketing it.

The clean agricultural technology programme is being run concurrently in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to build home-based technologies to transform agriculture on the continent.

The Project Coordinator, Dr Ferdinand Tornyie in an interview at the capacity-building programme for the qualified 30 youths said that the entire project was aimed at advancing women and youth economic empowerment through the promotion of low-cost clean energy-powered agricultural technology solutions.

He said the focus was on women because they did not have both the skills and financial muscle to compete favourably with their male counterparts.

“As countries across the globe transition to a low-carbon economy, it is imperative for decision-makers to integrate gender-transformative approaches into their energy transition ambitions.

“An effective strategy to achieve this involves providing technical and financial assistance to women-led small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), particularly those driving clean technology innovations,” he said.

Dr Tornyie said it was imperative to bridge the gender gap in clean technology development and subsequently alleviate poverty, which contributes to a more equitable and sustainable future.

“Ensuring a gender-sensitive low-carbon development agenda is vital for fostering sustainable economic growth across sectors,” he told the Daily Graphic.

The project coordinator said addressing the clean energy and technology requirements of smallholder farmers was crucial for achieving a just transition and unlocking their full potential. He said in Ghana, subsistence farming, characterised by poor technological solutions, contributed to about 80 per cent of agriculture output, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme.

“Women farmers in Ghana contribute nearly 70 per cent of subsistence crop production but they are faced with disadvantages that are socio-economic and cultural in dimensions, leading to limited access to land, financial services and technologies, among others. These limiting factors hamper women from achieving high agricultural productivity and full economic potential.”

In her remarks, the Director of the University, Dr Fatima Denton, urged participants to explore and expand the use of clean agriculture technology to drive the industry. In a speech read for her by the Gender Expert of the university, Maria-Ancilla Bombande, the director called for more women’s engagement and support to lead the transformational agenda.