Dr. Gregory Afra Komlaga, a Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, emphasizes the pivotal role of stakeholders within the agrifood sector in ensuring and maintaining food security in the sub-region.
Specifically, he underscores the necessity for food producers and processors to employ modern and suitable food production and postharvest technologies to guarantee food availability for all.
Dr. Komlaga delivered these remarks during the graduation ceremony for the inaugural cohort of 20 participants of the Agrifood Enterprise Programme, alongside the induction of the second cohort of 50 participants in Accra. This initiative, geared towards supporting Micro, Small, and Medium agri-food Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana, aims to unleash their full business potential.
Implemented by the Africa Skills Hub Foundation and backed by the World Bank, Ministry of Finance, and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, the Programme equips young entrepreneurs in the food industry with comprehensive training and guidance, enabling them to establish sustainable agri-business ventures. Dr. Komlaga highlights the significance of this Programme as positive news for Africa, particularly Ghana.
As Head of the Food Technology Research Division at CSRI, Dr. Komlaga underscores that the Programme aligns with governmental efforts in Africa to combat food insecurity. He emphasizes the importance of food as a fundamental necessity of life, providing essential nutrients vital for bodily functions such as growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues, as well as regulating vital processes.
Dr. Afra Komlaga emphasized that food production, preservation, processing, and distribution play pivotal roles in ensuring the availability of food worldwide. He highlighted the significance of the food manufacturing industry in the global economy, providing employment opportunities and essential products to consumers across the globe.
Furthermore, Dr. Komlaga stressed the critical role of the agrifood sector in ensuring food security and meeting the increasing demand for diverse and high-quality food products. He noted that the agriculture sector is the primary sector of most African economies, including Ghana’s.
Food Security Remains A Major Challenge
However, Dr. Komlaga lamented that food security remains a major challenge for a significant portion of the African population. He pointed out that food insecurity and malnutrition are significant issues in African nations, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing a heavy burden of undernutrition.
Dr. Komlaga identified inadequate food production and postharvest food loss as the two major contributing factors to food insecurity. He cited statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization indicating that globally, about 30 percent of harvested food is lost or wasted annually, with even higher rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
To address these challenges, Dr. Komlaga emphasized the importance of reducing postharvest food losses through the adoption of appropriate food production and postharvest technologies and food processing methods. These measures could stabilize food supply, reduce seasonal price fluctuations, and contribute to food security.
Mr. Kofi Nkansah, CEO of NEIP, highlighted the government’s efforts to support entrepreneurship and job creation through initiatives such as the Hubs Accelerated Grants Programmes. This program provides grants of up to $100,000 to African entrepreneurs across various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, finance, and technology, aiming to promote innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
Mr. Daniel Amoako Antwi, Executive Director of Africa Skills Hub Foundation, expressed hope that beneficiaries of the program would not only become successful business owners but also agents of change. He noted the intensive training, mentorship, and hands-on experiences provided to the trainees, focusing on innovative practices such as sustainable farming and advanced food processing techniques.
The Foundation has designed an aftercare support system to continue engaging with all trainees as they grow their businesses. Additionally, six entrepreneurs were awarded soft loans to boost their ventures, with plans for meticulous monitoring of their progress over the next year.
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