A total of 2,177 applications have been submitted for FSRP’s 2025 Youth and Women’s Incubation Programme as at the submission deadline on Monday June 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM. The programme, which is part of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) targets agribusiness startups and entrepreneurs across key agricultural value chains and seeks to enhance food systems resilience, create jobs and promote inclusive participation in agribusiness development.
Strong Participation by Women
Of the total applications received, 40% of applicants (totaling 878) were from women, marking a significant step toward gender inclusion and empowerment in the agriculture sector.
Applications were split between two training modules. Module 1 - which deals with capacity building in value addition technologies in rice, maize, soya, tomato and poultry (broiler), attracted 1,883 submissions (86%); whiles Module 2 which focuses on Incubation programme for agri-tech innovators and IT start-ups, in value addition in rice, maize, soya, tomato and poultry (broiler) attracted 294 applications (14%).
The value chains of interest included Grains (rice, maize, soya) which recorded 73%; Broilers (Poultry), which recorded 23%; and Tomatoes which garnered 4% of the applications.
Regional Participation
All 16 regions across the country showed considerable interest in the programme, with the Northern and Ashanti Regions posing the strongest showings.
The Northern Region led with 752 applications, representing 34.53% of the total number of submissions, followed by the Ashanti Region with 612 applications (28.1%).
The Upper East and Greater Accra and Volta Regions constituted 6.06% and 5.19% and 4.59%. Regions such as Western North, Oti, and Savannah recorded the lowest submission rates, each contributing less than 1% of the total.
The analysis underscores the programme’s broad reach and highlights the high enthusiasm among young agripreneurs, particularly in the north, where agricultural activity remains a key driver of livelihoods.
Happening Now
All applicants have been informed about receipt of their applications.
The process is now moving into the selection phase, targeting 500 participants for Module 1 and 30 participants for Module 2.
Implementing partners and key stakeholders have been officially informed about the roll-out plan. A review of the budget and selection of the targeted 530 qualified applicants; and the assessment of training & accommodation facilities in the Northern, Middle and Southern zones are ongoing in earnest.
Qualified applicants will be notified of their application status in due course; and the first batch of 50 successful candidates will begin the programme on August 4.
About the FSRP Youth & Women Incubation Programme
The FSRP Youth & Women Incubation Programme is one of FSRP’s key intervention programmes which seeks to provide support for 5,060 youth and women entrepreneurs already involved in value addition activities, including promising start-ups, viable existing agribusinesses and agri-tech companies operating in the rice, maize, soya, tomato and poultry (broiler) value chains.
It is aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among youth and women through training, mentorship, and equipment support. It also seeks to improve food security and resilience by promoting and supporting sustainable agribusinesses led by youth and women; and create a network of empowered youth and women agri-preneurs and agri-techs who can serve as role models and mentors; as well as enhance gender and youth mainstreaming in agriculture and agribusiness. It also well aligned to MOFA’s Feed Ghana Programme, aimed at value addition and youth development. This effort supports FSRP’s mission to strengthen agribusiness and build resilience in Ghana’s food system.
Roles of Implementing Partners
Key implementing partners of FSRP Partners involved in the selection and roll-out process are:
Food Research Institute (FRI): is supporting the selection and roll out of training programme under Module 1 for grains (rice, maize, soya) in the Northern, Middle and Southern zones.
Biotechnology & Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute - Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (BNARI-GAEC) – is supporting with the selection process and roll out of training programme under Module 1 for tomato at BNARI-GAEC offices.
Animal Production Directorate (APD-MoFA) & Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD-MoFA) – is supporting the selection process and roll out of training programme under Module 1 for broilers in the Middle and Southern zones.
Women In Agriculture Development (WIAD-MoFA) – is supporting the selection process and roll out of training programme under Module 1 for grains, tomato and broilers in all zones. Also coordinate gender inclusion activities, especially for women.
Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) – is supporting the selection process and roll out of training programme under Module 1 & 2, specifically for standardization and certification.
Food & Drugs Authority (FDA) – is supporting the selection process and roll out of the training programme under Module 1 & 2, specifically for food safety and certification.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – is supporting the selection process and roll out of the training programme under Module 1 & 2, specifically for environmental safeguards and certification.
National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP) is supporting the selection process and roll out of the training programme under Module 1 & 2 for broilers in the Middle and Southern zones.
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