Mahama launches AgroTech Fair, pushes for homegrown innovation in agriculture

President John Dramani Mahama has officially opened the Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 in Accra, calling for greater use of innovation and technology to turn agriculture into a key engine of growth and prosperity.

The fair, themed “Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology,” has brought together farmers, tech experts, researchers, and agribusiness players to share ideas and explore practical solutions to improve productivity using local expertise.

Addressing participants, the President said the event is not just about displaying machines, but about creating real opportunities by linking ideas, research, and investment.

“Events such as this do more than just showcase machinery and technology; they connect ideas to enterprise, research to industry, and innovation to investment. In doing so, they help to transform agriculture from a sector of survival to a sector of opportunity, productivity, and national prosperity,” he stated.

He stressed the need for Ghana to invest in its own technological capabilities rather than rely heavily on imported systems across the agricultural value chain.

“No nation can transform its agricultural economy while indefinitely depending on imported machinery, processing lines, and technological systems at every stage of production.

“If Ghana is serious about agricultural transformation, we must deliberately build the capacity to design, fabricate, adapt, maintain, and scale agricultural technologies locally,” he said.

As part of efforts to support farmers more directly, President Mahama announced plans to cut the sod for the first farmer service centre at Afram Plains, marking the start of a nationwide rollout of 50 centres. The first phase will cover 11 key agricultural areas.

He explained that farmers who register with these centres will benefit from mechanisation services, training, and guidance from extension officers to improve production, processing, and value addition.

“Farmers registered with the centres will receive mechanisation support, training, and guidance from extension officers on best practices in production, transport, processing, and value addition.

“This initiative is part of our broader plan to modernise agriculture, enhance productivity, and strengthen local agribusiness through innovation and capacity building,” President Mahama said.

The Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 is expected to serve as a meeting point for industry players and investors, helping to drive a more modern, resilient, and profitable agricultural sector in the country.

NA/VPO

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