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Programme to support local agric technology startup launched

The Embassy of Israel in collaboration with Innohub and the Pears Programme for Global Innovation yesterday launched the Israel-Ghana AgriTech Accelerator Demo Day project in Accra.

The programme, set to begin in July, will support agricultural technology startups and also enhance the capacity of local AgriTech businesses.

The Israeli Ambassador, Mrs Shlomit Sufa, in a speech read on her behalf said the AgriTech would enable participants to build on their technologies by connecting them to relevant tech experts from Israel for advisory support.

“The programme involves classroom sessions, participant-led workshops, and individualised mentor support to help participating startups refine their technologies,” she said.

 The Ambassador said the initiative would support and grow Ghanaian AgriTech startups to further develop and refine their product technologies in order to boost the agricultural economy.

She was optimistic that, “through this initiative, we can strengthen the business links between relevant Israeli tech companies and the Ghanaian startup ecosystem.”

She added that during the programme, four startups participants would pitch their businesses to an expert panel composed of an investment consultant, an AgriTech specialist, a fund manager and key ecosystem players and potential investors.

She said they would mentor and equip the participants with skills to enhance their field of business to develop the agricultural sector.

According to Mrs Sufa, the four Ghanaian AgriTech Startups would have the opportunity to develop their expertise from Israeli AgriTech experts.

“The participants will benefit from a tailored product building, coaching from Israeli Tech Experts and Ghanaian coaches with high level workshops on product fit, product architecture, user experience and manufacturing development,” she said.

Mrs Sufa said the government of Israel would continue to support the agricultural sector, especially in greenhouse Agricultural technology.

“As an embassy, the agricultural sector has been one of the key sectors that we operate mainly, highlighting and connecting the Ghanaian agricultural sector to that of Israel,” she said.

Mary Aboagye, a participant and member of Scarecrow Technologies, said their project used drone technology that was innovative, eco-friendly and cost-effective to protect crops and ward off pest birds from cereal farms.

“We use aural and visual aids that are biologically understood by birds. This creates fear instincts for birds, causing them to flee the farm and saving the farmer valuable time and money,” she said.

Ohene-Botchway Theodore, a participant at Cofounder of SayeTech, said their technology use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and software to help farmers and local artisans to develop agricultural machinery needed to improve productivity in the economy.

BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG & IGNATIUS AWUAH TANOE BLAY

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