It was attended by representatives of government agencies and institutions, academia, development partners, the private sector, and young entrepreneurs.
It formed part of the implementation of the Expanding, Mentoring and Coaching to Build Capacity and Expand Access to Technical and Financial Resources for Disadvantaged Youth in Agriculture in Ghana Project.

The project is also part of the Youth Employment for Food and Agriculture Programme, a strategic partnership between AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation.

Held under the theme: “African Youth Leveraging Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems and Decent Jobs in the Rice, Soybeans, and Horticulture Value Chains”, the fair featured roundtable discussions, presentations and exhibitions showcasing youth-led agribusiness innovations.

Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, speaking during the dialogue, said it was part of series of regional engagements that would culminate in national conversations during the upcoming Agri-Innovation Alliance (AIA) Conference aimed at building resilient food systems and youth-led transformation.

He said: “Our focus is on innovations that create unique business ideas to solve challenges within the agricultural sector. Young people are not just participants in the sector; they are leaders and change-makers.”
He said through partnerships with AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, KIC had supported thousands of young entrepreneurs across Ghana to develop viable agribusinesses that addressed real challenges in food systems.

He emphasised that the dialogue was not only about discussions but also about forging connections, surfacing bold ideas, and setting a policy agenda that placed youth at the centre of agricultural transformation.

Dr John Jagwe, an official of the AGRA, reiterated that the partnership reflected AGRA’s commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and the need to encourage more youth to venture into productive and environmentally sound farming enterprises.

Madam Denise Amponsah, Women in Agriculture Officer at the Tamale Metropolitan Department of Agriculture, described the dialogue as timely, saying it highlighted the potential of young people especially women in driving robust and sustainable agricultural practices.
She urged participants to leverage the partnerships, knowledge, and expertise shared to explore opportunities in agribusiness.

Madam Mary Ali, a processor and participant, commended KIC and AGRA for the platform saying it had equipped her with innovative ideas to excel in the agricultural sector.

She appealed to government and other development partners including philanthropists to prioritize establishing processing training centres to further enhance the skills of the youth and create employment opportunities.