Marphlix Trust revives irrigation site to power youth agribusiness and exports

Marphlix Trust Company, a leading producer and exporter of fresh vegetables, roots, tubers, and fruits in Ghana, has revived a long-abandoned irrigation facility under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, transforming it into a training ground for thousands of youth interested in agribusiness and export-oriented farming.

The facility, located at Dawhenya near Prampram in Greater Accra, was originally developed by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority in partnership with Israeli firm Agritop and contains about 100 greenhouse units. It had been left unused for nearly eight years before being reimagined by Marphlix Trust as a hub for modern agricultural training and entrepreneurship.

Chief Executive Officer of Marphlix Trust, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah, explained that the initiative aims to train over 5,000 young people with skills that go beyond traditional farming. Trainees are provided with accommodation, meals, and allowances while learning greenhouse cultivation, open-field farming, irrigation techniques, crop research, and agribusiness management.

“We are moving agriculture from subsistence to business,” Dr. Kamassah said in an interview. “Our focus is on teaching young people to grow what the market demands. Beyond training, we provide inputs and market linkages to sustain their ventures.”

The impact on participants has already been significant. Matilda Agbloe, a graduate of Ohawu Agricultural College, said the program has reignited her dream of pursuing agriculture after struggling with limited opportunities. “This training has given me the tools and support to launch my agribusiness, especially with a focus on exports,” she said.

Christabel Fafa Dogbe, who transitioned from hospitality into farming, described the program as transformational. “I now see the potential of producing safe, organic vegetables that can serve both local and international markets,” she noted.

Another trainee, Dramani Alhassan Kennedy from Tinga in the Savannah Region, highlighted the program’s wider impact. “Where I come from, illegal mining has destroyed the land and left many youth jobless. I want to return home after this training to change the mindset of my community. Agriculture is not punishment or for the poor, it is a real business,” he said.

The project will focus on producing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, chili, and habanero, with a goal of capturing a significant share of the domestic tomato market and expanding into exports to boost Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings.

Looking forward, Marphlix Trust plans to replicate the model across irrigation sites nationwide, building what it describes as “agro-vegetable cities” to reduce unemployment, strengthen food security, and create wealth through agribusiness.

“This is the new face of agriculture in Ghana,” Dr. Kamassah stressed. “It is modern, mechanized, and designed to provide sustainable jobs and prosperity for young people.”

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