The Ghana Lead of the DIVAGRI Project, Dr. Francis Kumi called on researchers and policymakers to deepen collaboration to ensure that local innovations translate into national developmental projects and policies for accelerated socio-economic growth.

He stressed that it was time for Ghana to “build her own technologies, not just borrow or depend on those developed by others”, adding that developing locally made farming tools and equipment could help create jobs, empower rural communities, and strengthen agricultural productivity.

Dr. Kumi said local machinists and artisans possessed the creativity and technical know-how to design tools that meet the needs of small holder farmers, but their efforts were often unnoticed due to lack of investment.

“When we invest in our innovators, we keep value within our economy. The challenge is not a lack of talent, but a lack of trust in our own systems,” he said.

He encouraged institutions such as UCC and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to continue building partnerships with farmers and industry players, adding that innovation should be linked to policy and practice.

Innovation, not Importation

He highlighted that the government spent huge sums importing farm machinery, only for them to arrive at prices that most smallholder farmers could not afford.

He said the solution laid in supporting local machinists and innovators to design affordable tools like planters, weeders, fertilizer applicators, and threshers that meet the needs of small-scale farmers.

“If government supports our local machinists, farmers will no longer struggle to buy the equipment they need. We can even produce machines that extract oil from plants such as moringa right here in Ghana,” he stated.

He noted that during their research engagements, many farmers expressed their frustration about the cost of imported tools, stressing that locally manufactured ones would be cheaper and more accessible.

Dr. Kumi also urged farmers to view agriculture beyond food production, explaining that agriculture and tourism could be blended to create new income opportunities.

“A farmer could run a farm as both a workplace and a tourist destination, where visitors can learn about agriculture, relax, or even conduct research. This would attract tourists and promote agri-tourism in Ghana,” he added.

Farmers as Co-Creators

Dr. Kumi said the project’s uniqueness laid in its participatory approach, where farmers were treated as co-creators of solutions rather than passive beneficiaries.

“We are not only introducing technology; we are building capacity, creating value chains, and empowering communities,” he said.

A Farming Systems Specialist at CSIR, Dr. Eric Owusu-Danquah, presented findings from their study on intercropping and desalination greenhouse technology. 

He explained that intercropping maize with pigeon pea helped boost soil fertility and productivity while cutting down fertilizer use.

“Instead of using two bags of fertilizer, farmers can use one and still harvest the same yield,” he noted, calling for stronger policy support to scale up such practices.

Bridging Research-Policy Gap

For his part, a Senior Lecturer at UCC’s Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Dr. Bervell Brandford praised DIVAGRI for promoting practical research and innovation that directly benefit farmers and students.

He said the project had empowered many participants through the University’s Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) and urged continued support for such initiatives.

In a speech read on his behalf, the  Central Regional Director of Agriculture, Dr. Peter Omega commended the UCC and its partners for their leadership in promoting circular agricultural innovations through the DIVAGRI Project.

He said the initiative aligned with government’s “Feed Ghana Programme” (2025–2028), which seek to increase productivity, strengthen food security, create jobs, and enhance value addition across the agricultural sector.

He underscored that the circular bioeconomy approach promoted by DIVAGRI was vital for achieving national agricultural goals, as it converted waste into value and ensured sustainable production.

“Ghana spends over two billion dollars annually on food imports. If we embrace circular agricultural innovation, we can feed ourselves, process what we grow, and even export quality produce,” he said.

The Director called for stronger linkages between research, policy, and implementation, urging researchers to make policy translation a deliverable in every project. 

He also encouraged universities and local institutions to align their curricula with national skills demands in agro-entrepreneurship and sustainable farming.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku in a speech read on his behalf by Faiza Mukaila also appealed to researchers to involve people working directly on the field whenever such studies were being conducted.

Hee explained that farmers and field practitioners possessed valuable hands-on knowledge that often escaped academic research, and their inclusion could help close the gap between theory and practice.

“Those of us on the field know the realities, the challenges, and even the simple techniques that can make farming more efficient. If researchers include our voices, the solutions will be more practical and sustainable,” she said.