Marphlix Trust revives irrigation facility to train youth in agribusiness and boost exports

Ghanaian owned agribusiness giant, Marphlix Trust Company Limited has revived a long-abandoned irrigation facility under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), opening new opportunities to train thousands of young Ghanaians in agribusiness and export-oriented farming.

The facility, originally developed through a partnership between the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) and Israeli firm Agritop, had been idle for nearly eight years. Now repurposed by Marphlix Trust, it is being transformed into a modern training hub aimed at equipping young people with practical skills along the agricultural value chain — from production to marketing and exports.

According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Felix Mawuli Kamassah the project targets training more than 5,000 youth, many of them unemployed graduates. Trainees are housed on-site, provided with meals and allowances, and given hands-on exposure to greenhouse and open-field farming, irrigation, crop research, and agribusiness management.

“This is not just farming, it is business,” the CEO told myjoyonline.com . “We are teaching the youth to grow what the market demands. Beyond training, we provide them with inputs and guaranteed market linkages to secure sustainable incomes.”

Beneficiaries have already begun testifying to the impact. Matilda Agbloe, a graduate from Ohawu Agricultural College, said the program has restored her hope after years of joblessness. “After school, I had no capital to start. This opportunity is equipping me to launch my own agribusiness with a focus on exports,” she said.

Christabel Fafa Dogbe, who previously worked in the hospitality sector, described the training as life-changing. “I want to become one of Ghana’s leading vegetable farmers. We are learning how to produce safe, organic crops that can compete in both local and international markets,” she explained.

The revived facility will focus on producing tomatoes, chili, habanero, cucumbers, and other vegetables, with the ambition of capturing at least 20 percent of Ghana’s tomato market and driving exports to boost foreign exchange earnings.

Marphlix Trust envisions replicating the model across other irrigation sites in the country, ultimately building “agro-vegetable cities” that reduce youth unemployment, enhance food security, and strengthen Ghana’s agribusiness export base.

“This is the future of agriculture,” the CEO emphasized. “It is no longer about cutlass and hoe. With modern technology and mechanization, agribusiness is creating real jobs and wealth for young people.”

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