The Agricultural Technology Park in Ghana’s Northern Region became a vibrant centre for innovation, collaboration, and learning in 2024. From July to November, the park hosted 692 visitors, each bringing unique perspectives and objectives, but all united by a shared commitment to advancing agriculture through technology. The diverse mix of visitors, including grain farmers, seed producers, development partners, agribusiness actors, and media highlighted the park’s vital role in promoting agricultural transformation.

One of the earliest visits to the park this year was by a group of 16 stakeholders, consisting of one woman and 15 men, following the signing of a partnership agreement between CSIR-SARI and 12 of its collaborators. This agreement underscored the collaborative spirit that defines the park’s mission and marked a major step forward in scaling the innovative technologies showcased at the facility. In the wake of the 2024 dry spell, representatives from the USAID Ghana Mission, including one man and two women, visited to assess the impact of the drought on research fields and identify potential climate-resilient solutions.

The park’s efforts to improve staple crop production attracted significant attention. Delegates from the Alliance for Cowpea Improvement in Africa, comprising nine men and four women, explored high-performing cowpea varieties and associated innovations. Meanwhile, maize farmers, including 21 men and 22 women, visited the park to evaluate advanced maize technologies that promise to enhance productivity and resilience. Soybean technologies also garnered interest, with 28 soybean agribusiness actors-13 men and 15 women-identifying opportunities to revolutionize their operations.

Youth engagement was a major highlight of the year. A total of 262 young people, 197 men and 65 women, were inspired by the park’s ready-to-use technologies and the associated business opportunities. Their enthusiasm and determination to adopt these innovations emphasized the park’s role in fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders.

The park also served as a critical platform for improving seed systems. Eighteen seed producers, 17 men and one woman, assessed ready-to-scale seed varieties to make informed decisions for their enterprises. This was complemented by an unscheduled visit from a male seed producer, which further demonstrated the park’s reputation as a hub of agricultural innovation.

Media practitioners, totalling five, documented the park’s activities, capturing the technologies and success stories in a video documentary. Their work amplified the park’s impact, ensuring the dissemination of valuable information to broader audiences.

International and regional delegations were equally drawn to the park’s offerings. Four representatives, including two women and two men, from CORAF and the CORAF Capitalization Team, documented the park’s innovative approaches and assessed progress in technology adoption. Representatives from WACCI/AGRA, comprising three men and one woman, explored potential collaborations, while delegates from the French Embassy, one man and two women, examined scalable technologies for investment and support.

Farmers were at the heart of the park’s impact. Over 195 farmers, including 120 men and 75 women, were introduced to technologies that significantly outperformed their current practices. Their engagement was a testament to the park’s capacity to address real-world challenges and deliver practical solutions.

The Agricultural Technology Park proved itself to be a transformative force in 2024, bridging the gap between research and practical application. Farmers left the park equipped with actionable insights, youth were motivated to venture into agribusiness, and agribusiness actors identified clear paths to scale their operations. The year’s activities culminated in strengthened partnerships, heightened visibility, and a renewed commitment to agricultural innovation. With 692 visitors from diverse backgrounds, the park solidified its role as a cornerstone for sustainable agricultural development in Ghana and beyond.