A new initiative is set to transform the economic prospects of youth in Northern Ghana by positioning horticulture as a springboard for job creation, entrepreneurship, and value addition.
Agrihouse Foundation, with catalytic support from AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation under the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) Programme, has launched the Boost-To-Bloom project to unlock the commercial potential tomatoes, pepper, and onions in the five (5) northern regions of Ghana, particularly Upper East, Upper West, Savannah Region, North East, and Northern Region.
At its core, the initiative aims to create a pipeline of 20,000 skilled, business-minded youth – including young women and persons with disabilities – between 2025 and 2028. These beneficiaries receive targeted training, coaching, and startup support to establish agribusinesses that span production, processing, and input distribution.
“We are not just growing vegetables. We are growing the next generation of agri-entrepreneurs who can compete, add value, and transform communities,” said Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation.
Why Horticulture, why now?
Youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge in Ghana’s northern belt, where agriculture remains the mainstay of rural livelihoods but offers limited economic mobility due to fragmentation, market barriers, and post-harvest losses. At the same time, Ghana’s vegetable value chains present untapped growth potential—particularly in processed products like tomato paste, dried onions, and pepper powder.
Boost-To-Bloom Project responds to this opportunity with a comprehensive agribusiness roadmap that goes beyond production to address market access, input supply, and financial literacy, with an eye on both domestic and export markets.
Creating Job Pathways, especially for the Marginalized
The project places a deliberate focus on young women and persons with disabilities, recognizing the systemic barriers they face in accessing land, finance, and leadership opportunities.
Through regional bootcamps and agribusiness hubs, beneficiaries will be supported to:
Launch enterprises across the horticulture value chain
Operate input dealerships and service centers
Develop leadership and innovation skills
Gain financial management and cooperative governance know-how
This approach aligns with AGRA’s commitment to inclusive agricultural transformation, ensuring that no demographic is left behind as Ghana’s agri-food economy evolves.
From Fields to Markets: Building Sustainable Agribusiness Ecosystems
A unique feature of the initiative is the formation of Boost-To-Bloom Project Networks – localized agribusiness clusters that promote shared infrastructure, collective bargaining, and market linkages. These networks will connect beneficiaries to buyers, exporters, processors, and public-private partners.
“We are focused on building systems, not silos. Through these networks, we are connecting youth-led businesses to markets, finance, and policymaking spaces,” said Dr. Betty Annan, Country Director, AGRA Ghana.
Additionally, the project will strengthen cross-regional peer learning, facilitate access to transport and storage facilities, and enable shared use of processing equipment to reduce cost and improve competitiveness.
A Future of Value Addition and Export Readiness
In line with Ghana’s ambition to expand non-traditional exports and reduce reliance on raw commodity trade, Boost-To-Bloom project is embedding value addition as a core principle. Training modules will include food safety, product packaging, and branding, equipping youth with the capacity to produce shelf-ready products for supermarkets and international buyers.
AGRA’s involvement ensures that the initiative is also connected to national and regional policy dialogues, offering evidence that can inform inclusive agribusiness development strategies across the continent.
A Scalable Model for Inclusive Growth
Boost-To-Bloom Project demonstrates a new model of agricultural development—one that combines skills training with enterprise creation, systems thinking with on-the-ground action, and youth empowerment with market responsiveness.
With the backing of Mastercard Foundation and AGRA, the initiative signals a shift toward youth-led, inclusive, and commercially viable agriculture, establishing and creating meaningful, dignified and life transforming jobs, for the youth in northern Ghana.
