KIC and Mastercard Foundation announce call for applications for the 2024 AgriTech Challenge Classic program

KIC and Mastercard Foundation have announced the call for applications for the 2024 AgriTech Challenge classic program. Nominations are open from March 18th till April 19th, 2024. The program is being organised in collaboration with 16 participating universities across the country, to train and coach students on entrepreneurship within the agribusiness sector.

The AgriTech Challenge Classic is a 7-month annual training program aimed at developing the interest and building the mindset of students and young graduates to ultimately drive systemic change in Ghana’s agriculture sector. It provides the youth with the right exposure to the agriculture value chain, and networking opportunities to build and grow viable solutions to Ghana’s key agricultural challenges. This programme is part of a wider partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Since commencing in 2016, more than 3,500 young people have received coaching, training and mentorship.

This year’s application window is beginning with awareness creation on the opportunities within the agribusiness sector and introducing young people to the agricultural value chain. Special events for young women, dubbed the Women’s Bootcamp will also be organised to encourage more young women to venture into agribusiness.

Sixteen (16) universities across the country are participating in this year’s competition. This comprises of 10 universities, already on the program namely; University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Ho Technical University (HTU), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), University of Development Studies (UDS), SD Dombo University of Business & Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS), and University of Energy and Natural Resource (UENR).

An additional 6 universities will also be participating for the first time this year. These are CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences; Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development; Damongo Agricultural College; Kwadaso Agricultural College; Ejura Agricultural College & Mechanization Center and Ohawu Agricultural College. In addition, this year, a new component has been introduced to the program, with a focus on primary agricultural production, to encourage interested young people to go into commercial farming.

Speaking about the impact of the AgriTech Challenge Classic program, Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director for KIC said: “At KIC, over the years we have seen business ideas develop and grow through the AgriTech Challenge Classic and progress unto other KIC mentorship programs. KIC is committed to developing young entrepreneurs to transform the agricultural sector in Ghana with innovation and cutting edge AgriTech. We are looking forward to students taking this opportunity that the AgriTech Challenge Program provides.”

“Last year’s AgriTech Challenge was very keenly contested, and we were impressed with the innovations especially around sustainability, climate action and circular economies. This shows the potential of agriculture to create jobs that impact other industries,” he added.

Dr. Keren Arthur, the Faculty Advisor for Program, and Director for Design Thinking and Innovation Hub at the University of Cape Coast has been impressed with the quality of the programme over the years in complementing and empowering students from the university’s innovation and incubation hub to develop their business ideas into viable business.

“We are looking forward to new innovations and ideas in this year’s competition and call on all eligible students to apply from their regions,” she added.

Winners from the AgriTech challenge classic competition will go on to join the Agri Tech Challenge Pro, an accelerator program aiming to support young entrepreneurs to launch and grow commercially viable, scalable solutions to key problems in the agricultural sector. The program aims to drive technology and innovation as a catalyst to enhancing productivity, improving yields, and creating more jobs within Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Through the KIC and the Mastercard Foundation partnership, the AgriTech Challenge Classic expects to train young people across the partner universities in the next four years, collaborating with regional academic partners such as universities and technical schools.