The University of Ghana on Tuesday signed a five-year partnership agreement with USAID to improve on higher education in agricultural research and innovation.

The $2.9 million agreement would support higher education programmes at the School of Agriculture, College of Applied and Basic Science and the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement for Masters and PhD programmes.

As part of the partnership, USAID would provide direct support to strengthen and maintain the University’s role as a leader in providing higher education, particularly in agricultural research, targeting food security crops.

Professor John Gyapong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Office of Research, Innovation and Development, said the support would also seek to strengthen the University’s national and international research programmes by promoting further collaboration between US Universities.

“The support will also make it possible for young Ghanaian scientists to obtain world-class training in plant bleeding, soil science, crops and agribusiness,” he said.

He said the University has also established a technology development and transfer centre to reposition the institution as a world-class research University.

Prof Gyapong said the University has also been embarking on the drive to improve on the quality of their research.

Mr Andrew Karas, Acting Mission Director, USAID said the future innovations in agricultural research and growth would be led by Ghanaians, who were trained in the country.

He said this requires access to a world-class education to accelerate efforts towards achieving food security and prosperity in Africa for years to come.

He expressed the hope that the partnership would also continue to deepen the cooperation between the University and their US counterparts to enhance agricultural training.

Prof John Ofosu-Anim, Dean of School of Agriculture, University of Ghana said the funding would contribute immensely to building human capacity in agriculture in line the school’s vision of contributing to sustainable human development in agriculture.

He said under the project, the school in particular would offer training to extension officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and farmers to enable them contribute significantly to the attainment of food security in the country.