By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, Nov. 01, GNA – The Southern Zone of the 2024 AgriTech Challenge Classic pitch competition arranged by Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) commenced on Thursday at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The two-day event witnessed 108 business start-up teams presenting their innovative concepts to a panel of distinguished experts referred to as the “Ideation Team”.
The KIC AgriTech Challenge serves as an accelerator programme designed to assist budding entrepreneurs in launching and expanding commercially viable, scalable solutions to critical issues within the agricultural sector.
The initiative aims to leverage technology and innovation as drivers to enhance productivity, increase yields and generate more employment opportunities within Ghana’s agricultural domain.
Hailing from five different regions of the nation, the three-member gender sensitive pitch teams, were carefully selected from four universities and an Agricultural College.
These educational institutions comprise UCC, University of Ghana, Ho and Koforidua Technical Universities, and OHAW Agric College in Akatsi, Volta Region.
Of the total participants, 81 exceptional teams from both the Southern and Northern Zones will be selected in due course to progress to the subsequent phase known as “AgriTech Challenge Pro.”
During that stage, the teams will benefit from business coaching, mentorship and programmes aimed at enhancing their readiness to attract investors.
Following that, the cohorts from the Northern and Southern Zones will compete for the national accolade from Wednesday, November 27 to Friday, November 29, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The victorious teams at the grand finale will be bestowed with various business support mechanisms and financial assistance amounting to $50,000 based on the viability of their projects.
Dr Stanley Amamu, the Community Lead at KIC, indicated that the AgriTech Challenge was meticulously crafted to cultivate and empower the youth in instigating change and ushering in a new era of agriculture transformation.
KIC’s overarching vision, he said, was to witness the flourishing of young individuals who possessed the acumen to foster enduring change within society.
He said the event signified the fruition of extensive groundwork, unwavering commitment, ground-breaking innovation and relentless efforts put forth by the exceptional young participants of the programme.
For him, “At the core of the AgriTech Challenge Classic, we are privileged to observe a harmonious convergence of exceptional talent, boundless creativity, and a collective aspiration for a sustainable future.”
“Agriculture transcends being a mere industry; it stands as a pivotal sector that unites us all. It serves as the very essence of our communities, offering sustenance, livelihoods, and a solid foundation for progress, “he expounded.
Dr Karen Arthur, Faculty Advisor, KIC AgriTech Challenge Programme, UCC applauded the teams’ resilience during months of Ideation, product training, coaching for various products or ideas.
She expressed the optimism that the concepts encountered currently could serve as the catalysts for transformative change in the methods of cultivation, harvesting and distribution of food.
“Our dedication to fostering innovation in agriculture is not only praiseworthy but also crucial for the future of our communities and the world,” she said.
Exhibiting their agricultural innovations, the pitching teams such as Vote Tower and Green Heaven Celen Honey presented ground-breaking ideas with the potential to transform the agricultural sector.
Vote Tower had invented portable machine for processing poultry feed whilst Green Heaven manufactured biodegradable baby diapers from bamboo.
These innovations encompass pure beekeeping methodologies, eco-friendly baby diapers crafted from bamboo, and a portable feed processing machine, among other pioneering concepts.
GNA