UN university shortlists 30 youth to develop clean agric technology
The United Nations (UN) University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, a research arm of the UN located on the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, has shortlisted 30 young innovators to develop clean/green agricultural technologies to solve agricultural challenges.
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The 30, mostly women, were selected out of 100 applicants, the number will further be pruned down to 10 for the "final showdown".
The winner in producing an acceptable green technology will be given $34,000 to scale up the product and assist in marketing it.
The final 10 would be expected to appear before a panel of experts, as well as a practical demonstration of the equipment produced.
The programme is being run concurrently in Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal to build home-based technologies to transform agriculture on the continent.
Interview
The Project Coordinator, Dr Ferdinand Tornyie, told the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of a capacity-building programme for the qualified 30 that the entire project was aimed at advancing women and youth economic empowerment through the promotion of low-cost clean energy-powered technology solutions in agriculture.
He said the focus was on women because they did not have both the skills and financial muscle to compete favourably with their male counterparts.
"As countries across the globe transition to a low-carbon economy, it is imperative for decision-makers to integrate gender-transformative approaches into their energy transition ambitions.
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"An effective strategy to achieve this involves providing technical and financial assistance to women-led small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), particularly those driving clean technology innovations," he said.
Dr Tornyie said it was imperative to bridge the gender gap in clean technology development and subsequently alleviate poverty, which contributes to a more equitable and sustainable future.
"Ensuring a gender-sensitive low-carbon development agenda is vital for fostering sustainable economic growth across sectors," he told the Daily Graphic.
Concept
The agricultural sector plays a significant role as smallholder farming has proven effective in reducing hunger and poverty among rural populations.
Nevertheless, the lack of access to clean energy poses a persistent challenge for smallholder rural agriculture production, post-harvest activities and agro-processing.
This energy constraint hampers the sector’s potential contribution to economic development and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Unlocking potential
The project coordinator said addressing the clean energy and technology requirements of smallholder farmers was crucial for achieving a just transition and unlocking their full potential.
He said in Ghana, subsistence farming, characterised by poor technological solutions, contributed to about 80 per cent of agriculture output, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme.
"Women farmers in Ghana contribute nearly 70 per cent of subsistence crop production but they are faced with disadvantages that are socio-economic and cultural in dimensions, leading to limited access to land, financial services and technologies, among others.
"These limiting factors hamper women from achieving high agricultural productivity and full economic potential.
Use clean technology
In her remarks, the Director of the University, Dr Fatima Denton, urged participants to explore and expand the use of clean agriculture technology to drive the industry.
In a speech read for her by the Gender Expert of the university, Maria-Ancilla Bombande, the director called for more women's engagement and support to lead the transformational agenda.
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