Former broadcast journalist Araba Koomson has expressed that social media has helped reshape the narrative about farming being a dirty job.
Speaking at the Africa Digital Dialogue under the theme, “Smart Farming: Technology Meets Tradition,” hosted by MG Digital in partnership with the Africa Digital Foundation on Friday, November 21, 2025, she shared that agriculture can be tech-driven and profitable. She believes more graduates will choose farming as technology makes it appealing.
“Social media visibility has changed the narrative of farming is a dirty job. The Ghana Grows program has shown me that young people will embrace agriculture when they see it’s not just about toiling in the sun, but about using drones, data, and digital platforms to build profitable businesses. I believe young graduates will choose farming over office jobs because technology has made it exciting. That’s the transformation we need to scale.”
The founder and CEO of JL Foods, also added that agriculture goes beyond food, representing identity, heritage, sovereignty, and opportunity. She stressed that the future depends on empowering farmers with the tools they need.
The founder and CEO of JL Foods, Araba Koomson.
“Agriculture isn’t just about food. It’s about identity, heritage, sovereignty, and yes, opportunity. The same soil that fed our ancestors can feed our future, but only if we give our farmers the tools they deserve.”
Entrepreneur and expert in FinTech and AgriTech, Nana Poku, also speaking at the dialogue, explained that digital platforms now allow anyone to invest in agriculture remotely, helping address Ghana’s $5 billion agricultural investment gap.
“For the very first time, you can be a farmer without moving an inch. From your homes and offices, you can choose to invest in agriculture. It is necessary to build a platform where we can invest in agriculture because here in Ghana there is a $5 billion agricultural investment gap, which indicates that there is insufficient funding to develop the agricultural ecosystem. But you can now invest using your mobile phone. And through your investment, farmers can buy a tractor and plough, they can have warehouses, and they can always sell when they want.”
According to him, Ghana loses about $1.9 billion worth of food annually, but digital agricultural investments help farmers earn profits of 8–9 per cent. He added that anyone can support this transformation by becoming a digital farmer, enabling local farmers to benefit from their investment.
Entrepreneur and expert in FinTech and AgriTech, Nana Poku
“In Ghana, the amount of food we lose every year is valued at $1.9 billion. Through your investment, farmers are able to sell and make a profit of about 8–9 per cent. You can be part of the change and transformation by becoming a digital farmer, while other farmers benefit from your investment.”
The Africa Digital Dialogue is part of the broader Africa Digital Festival (ADF) movement, designed to spark conversations that drive digital transformation across sectors.
This edition focuses specifically on agriculture, highlighting smart farming as a key pillar for national growth, food security, and economic development.
By: Mabel Antwi
