Dr. Otokunor Urges African Youth to Drive Agricultural Transformation Through Innovation

The Director of the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Office of the President, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, has called on young Africans to lead the continent’s agricultural transformation through innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. He made this appeal during the Agricultural Innovation for Africa (AIA) Conference held at the Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, under the theme “African Youth Leveraging Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems.”

In his keynote address, Dr. Otokunor commended the conference organizers for choosing a theme that captures “both the urgency and opportunity of our time.” He emphasized that the Mahama-led administration’s agricultural vision places young people at the heart of transformation.

“The youth are no longer passive beneficiaries of agricultural development; they are the architects of a new and innovative agricultural order. Every major initiative today is youth- and women-driven, innovation-led, and sustainability-focused.”

Highlighting various youth-centered initiatives coordinated by PIAA, Dr. Otokunor cited projects such as the School Farm Initiative (SFI), the Youth Agriculture Estate Programme (YAEP), and the Livestock and Poultry Farm-to-Table Project, all designed to empower young people to turn farming into profitable, technology-based enterprises. He also referenced the Coconut Seedlings Distribution Project and the Red Gold (Palm Oil), Cashew, and Shea Value Chain Initiatives, which he said were “transforming traditional subsistence activities into structured, export-oriented enterprises.”

Dr. Otokunor further mentioned outstanding young agripreneurs across the continent, including Alloysius Attah (Farmerline), Akua Sarpong (Agrico Hub), Isaac Sesi (Sesi Technologies), Nana Agyeman Prempeh (Grow For Me), and Adu Ababio (Tanta Farms), describing them as “the brilliant minds redefining agriculture through innovation.”

Drawing on his recent visit to Bulgaria, he announced plans to introduce modern livestock technologies, such as the Trevomat dairy feed system, into Ghana’s agricultural sector through a partnership with the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers (GNACAF).

“We are exploring the establishment of model farms with Trevomat units to serve as training hubs for farmers,” Dr. Otokunor announced. “This will not only enhance productivity but also help address the perennial farmer-herder conflicts by modernizing cattle rearing systems.”

He concluded by urging policymakers, investors, and the private sector to deepen their collaboration with youth-led agritech innovators, asserting that “when we empower the youth, we secure the future; when we innovate in agriculture, we ensure sustainability.”

The AIA Conference brought together farmers, researchers, students, and development partners from across Africa to deliberate on integrating technology and youth leadership into agricultural transformation.