This past week I visited the Ejura Agricultural College (EAC) to see how our Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship (A & E) Project is coming along there.
Just a quick recap – my job for the next few months will be to oversee the implementation of the A & E project at all five of Ghana’s public agricultural colleges. The project is a practical component that has been added to the A & E college course to give students experiential training in entrepreneurship. Throughout the semester, students design and implement an agribusiness. Students gain valuable knowledge and skills related to entrepreneurship, innovation and social responsibility. The project has been running at two of the five public agricultural colleges for two years. This semester, we have scaled it to the remaining 3 colleges, making it a national initiative. For EAC, this is their first time running the project component of the A & E course and EWB is helping to support this first iteration. More info on my work at: https://unfinishedstories.net/ewb-my-work/.
Ejura is located about two hours North East of Kumasi. It’s quite a large town, with a hugggge market on Mondays. It’s principally a farming community, with maize and yams the most important crops. As the rains have just started in the area, the roads were clogged with tractors on the way to plough. The A & E lecturer, Bright Akoto, tells me that many of the tractors come from a program that the government has started, selling them on credit to the farmers.
Tractor on its way to the field!
Ejura Agricultural College
I started my visit off by attending the second year students’ A & E lecture. The lecture reviewed different business models and structures. After class, I met with each of the groups and asked about their businesses, offering suggestions and answering questions. The agribusinesses are pretty varied: plantain chips with groundnuts, fresh fish, maize cakes, coconut ice cream (my mouth was watering as they described this one!), yoghurt processing, etc.. I pushed the students to think about how their product differed from others in the market – what was their innovation, their niche in the market? One group explained that they had found a way to process cassava into a higher quality flour than is offered anywhere in the area. Overall, the students were so excited to tell me about their projects. They explained that they found the course quite hard at first, as it was their first time doing anything like this it was quite overwhelming. Now that they have done their business plans and are starting to implement, they are really enjoying themselves, learning a lot and realizing that they are actually able to start agribusinesses themselves!
One of the student groups that I met with. This group is processing and selling yoghurt.
I followed up these meetings by asking them what they wanted to do after school. Some responded that they want to work in government or continue their education, but the majority responded that they wanted to start their own agribusiness. One young man excitedly told me that he loved rabbit farming and used to keep some rabbits when he was younger, but had to sell them when he came to school. He just can’t wait to get back to the rabbit business.
In the afternoon, I met with Mr. Akoto, the A & E lecturer. The students have a great mentor in Mr. Akoto, an entrepreneur himself. As well as teaching at the college, he has a successful kente business. He explains that he started from very small and grew his business to the success that it is today. He tries to inspire this same entrepreneurial spirit in his students, explaining to me that the he wants the students to understand that, although there are challenges to doing business in Ghana, they can start small and slowly grow to be successful entrepreneurs.
Day two was similar, meeting the 300 year students that are also doing the A & E project for this first iteration. I had a nice lunch meeting with Mr. Akoto and the college’s principal and then it was time to get back to Kumasi before the Easter Holiday travelling rush.
Third year A & E class with myself and Mr. Akoto.
The Principal of EAC, myself and Mr. Akoto, the A & E lecturer.
From what I saw this week, the A & E project is going through a fantastic first iteration at the Ejura Agricultural College. Students are enthusiastic about their businesses and gaining valuable skills and confidence in entrepreneurship, team work and innovation. I can’t wait until I go back in May, when they will be selling their products – oh, I’m going to eat so well on that trip…my mouth is watering just thinking of that coconut ice cream.
The view from where I sat waiting for a TroTro back to Kumasi. Oh so many yummy mangos!
Happy Easter!
Unfinished Stories 
[…] Robin, Siera, Rebecca, Don, me and Erin! Agricultural Extension Services Team! Students in class at Ejura Agricultural College, learning about Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship. After taking this photo I did a guest workshop […]
By: Snapshots of My Life « Unfinished Stories on May 15, 2012
at 9:21 pm
It was a nice initiative mum you brought in conjunction with ejura agric college.i completed this month and was in level 300,my group(mazaab)were into processing of fresh cow milk into yoghurt and i really learnt alot from this project.it was exciting,educative,interactive and thank u mum and mr akoto for impacting this entrepreneurship knowledge in us.
By: Joseph kojo armah on June 4, 2012
at 12:03 am
Thanks Joseph for sharing your story! That yoghurt was delicious – the day I came to see your products you gave us two bottles of it and the lecturers lined up to each have some. I’m happy to hear that you gained a lot from the course and enjoyed doing your agribusiness. I hope that you keep it up!
By: mhirdyounger on June 4, 2012
at 3:59 pm
I want the actual entry requirements into the college to pursue certificate in agribusiness
By: Kombat Joseph l on June 24, 2012
at 12:13 pm
Hello Joseph,
Thanks for your inquiry. Ghana’s Agric Colleges offer diplomas and certificates in General Agriculture (in which there are courses on agribusiness) as well as an Extension Diploma. The entry requiremeents for Ejura Agric College’s certificate in general agriculture are SHS 3 core subjects and 3 elective subjects with an aggregate weaker than 24. They also concentrate on agriculture and science students. Application forms are available at any of the Agric Colleges (Ejura, Damongo, Ohawu, Pong Tamale and Kumasi) or at any Regional Agriculture Office of MoFA.
As of this year, Wenchi farm institute also offers a short course on agribusiness that is geared toward practical learning for individuals wanting to go directly into farming or starting their own agribusiness.
I would be interested to hear if you decide to attend one of the colleges or pursue a certificate in agribusiness at another institution, so please keep in touch.
By: mhirdyounger on July 16, 2012
at 11:15 am
[…] we celebrated the national scale of the A & E Project to all of Ghana’s public Agricultural Colleges and envisioned where A & E could go in the […]
By: Learning and Sharing Together « Unfinished Stories on June 25, 2012
at 4:51 pm
I want the names of student selected at Ejura college of Agriculture on 2012
By: Baah samuel on July 17, 2012
at 6:06 pm
Good afternoon Mr. Baah,
For the details of those that were selected for Ejura Agric College, you will have to speak to the administration at the college.
All the best, Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on August 29, 2012
at 5:00 pm
[…] here from Kumasi was my first day on my own as an EWB African Program Staff and my first ‘consultancy’ visit to a college. Let me tell you, the butterflies were having a field day in my stomach. Today I am here for my […]
By: Tightrope Walking the Comfort Zone « Unfinished Stories on October 24, 2012
at 7:39 pm
[…] Advisory Services (GFRAS) annual meeting in the Philippines. I introduced our approach to bringing practical entrepreneurship training to Ghana’s agricultural colleges and innovations to the extension services sector. This forum is important at the international […]
By: Asking Tough Questions – A Role For EWB at the Global Level « Unfinished Stories on December 6, 2012
at 10:16 am
Please i have the following result after 2012 wassce . Social b2 English d7 science c6 core maths e8 gen. Agric b3 crops b3 e-maths c6 chemistry f9. do i qualify the college?
By: Samuel dibloni on December 14, 2012
at 12:43 pm
Dear Samuel,
Thank you for your question and your interest in studying agriculture. The best place to inquire about your qualification and to apply to the colleges is at one of the agricultural colleges themselves (Ohawu, Ejura, Kumasi, Pong Tamale and Damongo) or at a regional MoFA office. I don’t have the technical information on entry requirements myself.
Best of luck in your application!
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on January 25, 2013
at 10:45 pm
Please i went to know the entry requirement for 2013 and where i will get the forms.
By: Ekua Essumamah Ntsiful on January 16, 2013
at 10:40 am
Please am in Sekondi-Takoradi and i went to know the entry requirement for 2013 and where i will get access to the forms.
By: Ekua Essumamah Ntsiful on January 16, 2013
at 10:44 am
Dear Ekua,
Thank you for your question and your interest in studying agriculture. The best place to inquire about your qualification and to get application forms for the colleges is at one of the agricultural colleges themselves (Ohawu, Ejura, Kumasi, Pong Tamale and Damongo) or at a regional MoFA office.
Best of luck in your application!
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on January 25, 2013
at 10:46 pm
Please i want to know the courses you offer at the cos i have purchased one of the forms for 2013
By: Selby Abraham on February 11, 2013
at 9:28 pm
I am happy to hear that you are interested in the Agricultural Colleges. EWB does not teach courses at the colleges, but we support the lecturers. We have co-developed an Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Project that takes place in the 2nd year. It is a practical learning opportunity to build your knowledge, skills and attitudes in entrepreneurship! We will be focusing on the extension courses and learning opportunities at the colleges moving forward.
I hope this answers your question, if you would like more details, please let me know.
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on February 26, 2013
at 7:32 pm
4 1st year 1st sems:family nutrition,rural sociology,fisheries,economics,soil science,physiology and anatomy,I C T,non traditional agric.Any away 11 coss per sem and is simple and intresting hmm infact with allawence.
By: abdul -karim mufty on April 9, 2013
at 9:57 pm
pls may i know after completing ur national service . will government employ u or u will apply for MOFA for a job .
By: Twum Ernest on February 22, 2013
at 12:18 pm
Hello Ernest,
If you are seeking employment with MoFA, you will have to apply upon completion of your national service. Outside of MoFA, you can also seek employment opportunities with CocoBod, private sector agribusinesses and the civil society sector.
Best of luck!
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on February 26, 2013
at 7:34 pm
Pls can i use certificate in general agricultural to further for diploma in vetinary college at pong tamale.
By: Twum Ernest on March 3, 2013
at 6:15 pm
pls i want to know the entry requirement and when the forms wil be out.
By: ISRAEL GATI on March 17, 2013
at 3:24 pm
an aggregate of 29 is it possible for applying for diploma in ejura
By: kofi on March 20, 2013
at 2:21 pm
when will students be admitted into ejura
By: kofi on August 5, 2013
at 1:48 pm
Hi Kofi,
Please check with the administration of Ejura for these details.
Thank you,
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on October 14, 2013
at 7:54 am
nmm fantastic .you have done well.
By: abdul -karim mufty on April 9, 2013
at 9:30 pm
Hi, I’m from South Africa and have been trying to contact farming co-op’s to purchase Tiger Nuts/ Chufa Nut/ Atadwe.
I’ve also tried our local Ghana Embassy, all to know avail.
Does anyone have any suggestions or advice, I’d love to be able to help farmers directly instead of dealing thropugh 2 or 3 middlemen.
By: John on April 15, 2013
at 7:17 pm
does ejura agric college award diploma or certificate
By: gyamfi joseph on April 30, 2013
at 9:49 am
Ejura Agricultural College offers certificate programs, but they also offer other diversity of programs (such as sandwhich programs). Please contact the college for further information. Kind regards, Miriam.
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:40 pm
Gov.should try to give loans to individuals who want to do their own busines and also create job enpolyement for the trained graduats
By: Robert pakindam on May 6, 2013
at 10:00 am
how do i gain addmission
By: joshua on May 19, 2013
at 6:28 pm
Apologies for the delay in responding to your inquiry. Admission forms are accessible at each of the agricultural colleges as well as regional MoFA offices. Thank you, Miriam.
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:39 pm
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re wonderful!
Thanks!
By: Blake on June 29, 2013
at 4:41 am
Thank you Blake.
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:38 pm
Pls i want to know when the admission letters wil be out?
By: Ariba Mathias on July 3, 2013
at 8:48 pm
Hello, Admissions are being released promptly. You can contact the college you applied to for further details on the exact date. If you applied to Kwadaso, admissions should be available on the website this week at: http://www.kwadasoagriculturalcollege.com. Thank you, Miriam.
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:38 pm
Pls i was told that if u are not in kumasi or have anybody in the college n u wanted admistion u will not be given.my problem is i am in northern region,so if i have the qualification will i be admitted
By: Inusah Anthony Mudasiru on July 30, 2013
at 9:44 pm
Dear Mr. Mudasiru, admissions are objective and neutral. You do not need to have anybody at the college or be based in Kumasi to gain attendance. Admissions are a competitive, merit based process based on qualifications. For further information, please see www. kwadasoagriculturalcollege.com. Thank you, Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:37 pm
Can one obtain the ejura college forms online
By: Inusah Anthony Mudasiru on July 30, 2013
at 9:48 pm
For admission forms, unfortunately they are not available online. You can access the forms at the college or at any regional MoFA office. Thank you, Miriam.
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:35 pm
Hey would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m looking to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something
unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
By: Sherri on August 5, 2013
at 10:45 am
Hello, my template is the “Ocean Mist” wordpress template. And then I used ‘pages’ for the top pieces with my own information. I like the template as well!
By: mhirdyounger on August 5, 2013
at 1:34 pm
Pls with this grade can i obtain admission into the ejura agricultural college? SOCIAL=B2, SCIENCE=B3, ENGLISH=C6, MATHEMATICS=E8, GENERAL AGRIC=B3, CROP HUSB n HORT=C6, PHYSICS=C6, CHEMISTRY=f9
By: Inusah anthony mudasiru on August 12, 2013
at 10:17 pm
Pls when will the forms be out? I need one
By: Inusah anthony mudasiru on August 16, 2013
at 4:01 am
Dear Inusah,
Apologies for the late response. You can get forms for admission at any of the agricultural colleges or a regional MoFA office. Forms are usually available in the New Year, but please check with those institutions to confirm.
Kind regards,
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on October 14, 2013
at 7:54 am
I want a form .when
By: AFUDEGO LUCKY on September 5, 2013
at 4:35 pm
I had eng c6, sci c5, maths e8 ,chem d7 ,physic e8, biology e8, e.maths e8. Please can i get admission into any diploma or certificate programs
By: Samuel on September 20, 2013
at 11:52 am
Dear Dear,
Thank you for your question and your interest in studying agriculture. The best place to inquire about your qualification and to get application forms for the colleges is at one of the agricultural colleges themselves (Ohawu, Ejura, Kumasi, Pong Tamale and Damongo) or at a regional MoFA office.
Best of luck in your application!
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on October 14, 2013
at 7:57 am
[…] continues to be invested in the success of the Agriculture & Entrepreneurship (A&E) course which offers students experiential business skill development. EWB staff, Keena Trowell, […]
By: AgEx at Ghana’s Agricultural Colleges | Unfinished Stories on October 14, 2013
at 7:47 am
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already ;
) Cheers!
By: http://www.pyntdithus.eu/ on October 26, 2013
at 5:09 am
Thank you very much, I am happy that you enjoyed the post!
My name is Miriam and I work for Engineers Without Borders Canada in Ghana. We work on agricultural development with a focus on extension. You can learn more about me and my work here.
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on October 27, 2013
at 9:14 pm
Hi good afternoon,
I am making this inquiry on behalf of a fish farm in Ghana… We want to know if you offer any courses in fisheries and whether you can let some of your students come in for internships on vacations. When is your vacation? Can you pass this information round to all agricultural colleges in Ghana.
Thanks
Ama
By: Ama on November 12, 2013
at 3:31 pm
Dear Ama,
Thank you so much for your message. I am happy to hear that you are interested in short courses and internships at the agricultural colleges. All the colleges can offer training in aquaculture. Specifically, Kwadaso Agricultural College and Kumasi Institute for Tropical Agriculture offer short courses in fisheries. You can visit either college for more information. Alternatively, I can ask the appropriate contact to call you if you provide your contact information?
What level are the students?
Kind regards,
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on November 18, 2013
at 1:42 pm
Been part of the A & E program is a previlage. Am blessed now, E.A.C nd Asuansi Farm Institute students papa paa
By: Boachie Yiadom Raymon on January 20, 2014
at 5:01 pm
Thanks so much Boachie for sharing. What was your A&E Project?
By: mhirdyounger on January 21, 2014
at 1:34 am
[…] was your project for the second year Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Project at Kwadaso Agricultural College? What did you learn in doing that […]
By: Albert, One Story of the Future of Agriculture in Ghana | Unfinished Stories on January 21, 2014
at 1:31 am
If some one needs to be updated with latest technologies after
that he must be pay a quick visit this web page and be up to date all the time.
By: sita opinie on February 20, 2014
at 5:29 pm
Hi my name is gideon, i wanted to know if it is a must for me to teach after completing Ejura Agricultural College?
By: Gideon Nortey on March 14, 2014
at 7:41 pm
Hi Gideon,
Ghana’s agricultural colleges train future agriculturalists for the sector in Ghana. Some graduates go on to work at MoFA extension agents, of Cocobod extension agents, to start agribusinesses or work with existing agribusinesses. There are no mandatory jobs after graduating, in fact, you have many opportunities available to you upon graduation!
I hope that answers your question.
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on March 16, 2014
at 8:00 pm
[…] experiential learning to build the skills of Ghana`s future agriculturalists. Our work on the Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Project, scaled across Ghana, gets students out of the classroom, actually starting their own businesses in […]
By: Too much head-ucation | Unfinished Stories on March 16, 2014
at 9:40 pm
please what are the available programmes at ejura agricultural college .
By: Akotuah on March 23, 2014
at 12:59 pm
Dear Akotuah,
Ejura Agricultural College offers a certificate in General Agriculture.
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on March 30, 2014
at 4:29 pm
pls I need a form to buy ,where can I get one in accra
By: inusahanthonymudasiru on April 8, 2014
at 10:43 pm
Dear Inusah Anthony,
You can buy your forms at any agricultural college campus, at a regional office or at the head office in Accra. You can go to Human Resources, Development and Management Directorate of MoFA near Independance Square in Accra.
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on April 14, 2014
at 11:36 am
These are really wonderful ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some nice things here. Any way keep up wrinting.
By: mobile games on April 14, 2014
at 5:45 pm
I went to konw when is your dead line for applicante 2014/2015
By: daniel aryee on April 17, 2014
at 6:42 am
Hi Daniel,
You will have to ask at one of the colleges or a Regional MoFA office regarding the deadline, as I am not involved in the applications.
All the best,
Miriam
By: mhirdyounger on April 24, 2014
at 10:37 am
[…] the mutual trust, accountability, communication, feedback and support of this partnership, the Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Project, Internal Attachment Program and Innovation Committee would not have been possible. Principal […]
By: Celebrating A Change Leader – Principal Kontor | Unfinished Stories on September 18, 2014
at 4:35 pm