KIC advocates for gender inclusion and sustainable food systems

Access to land, skills, and supportive policies remains a barrier for many young women aspiring to succeed in agriculture. Without these, opportunities for inclusion in the agribusiness value chain are often limited, leaving women underrepresented in shaping Ghana’s food systems.

Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC)’s Young Farmer Business Academy (YFBA) is changing this narrative. By equipping young women with practical farming skills, mentorship, and resources, the program is not only boosting their confidence and capacity but also strengthening their voices in policy and advocacy spaces.

Amplifying Youth Voices in Food Systems : From Training to Advocacy

At Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC), young women participants are cultivating vegetables such as carrots while gaining hands-on experience in sustainable farming. Their journey goes beyond capacity building on farming techniques, it covers areas such as extension services; land policies and agricultural financing, and how these directly impact agribusiness ventures.

Through YFBA, KIC ensures that the voices of these young women are not confined to the farm but amplified in spaces where decisions are made. The program’s added focus on advocacy and modern farming means participants are encouraged to engage with local leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to push for inclusive agricultural policies that recognize the potential of youth and women.

“These inspiring participants of our Young Farmer Business Academy are proving that with access to land, skills, and supportive policies, young women can thrive in agribusiness and lead the change toward sustainable food systems,” said Terrence, Program Manager at KIC.

Speaking on the broader impact, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, emphasized:“Policy is as important as practice in agriculture. We cannot build sustainable food systems without ensuring that young people, especially women, have the enabling environment to thrive. At KIC, we are committed to bridging this gap by preparing our entrepreneurs to not only farm but to advocate for policies that make farming viable.”

The YFBA is more than an agricultural training program, it is a leadership pipeline for the next generation of agripreneurs who will advocate, innovate, and transform food systems in Ghana and beyond.