Happy Project

he Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Agri-Impact Limited has rolled out an ambitious and transformative program dubbed Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) to be implemented by eight Implementing Partners including NewAge Agric Solutions, National Service Scheme (NSS), Ghana Cares (MiDA), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), TechnoServe, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Jobberman. 

HAPPY is built on 3 intervention areas: i) increasing production and productivity within the poultry, rice, soybean, and tomato value chains, ii) promoting value addition, fostering entrepreneurship, and facilitating market development and iii) developing strategic policies and advancing youth, gender, social inclusion and voice and agency.  

The program aims to create 326,000 dignified and fulfilling jobs for youth (70% women) and persons with disability, increase food production by 190,000 tons, generate annual revenue of over $200million, and increase agricultural productivity in rice, soybean, tomato, and poultry value chains to reduce import of strategic foods by 10%.

Under HAPPY, Agri-Impact Limited is collaborating with the E-Learning Centre of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to roll out the e-HAPPY Project. The e-HAPPY training programs seek to deepen the use of ICT, and youth-led digital solutions to transform the agri-food systems in Ghana. 

The objectives of e-HAPPY Program include;

  • Build the capacity of 100 selected youth in the use of innovative digital technological and pedagogical tools through tailor-made coaching modules.

  •  Train 500 trainers of trainers (TOT) youth to become HAPPY Program ambassadors to drive a technology-driven agribusiness ecosystem.

  • Repurpose/co-create selected content suitable for virtual environments with Agri-impact partners.

  • Create targeted, innovative online training/technology transfer modules based on identified needs along the Agri-food value chain.

  • Equip youth to use programming for integrating and programming Internet of Things (IoT) devices in agriculture while using machine learning concepts to develop models for predicting crop yields, pest outbreaks, or optimal environmental conditions based on historical data.

E-HAPPY Cohort 2 training empowers youth for digital farming solutions

E-HAPPY Cohort 2 training empowers youth for digital farming solutions

The world of agriculture is changing, with technology, sustainability, and youth empowerment now at its core. 
Spearheading this transformation is the E-HAPPY Project, a collaboration between Mastercard Foundation and Agri Impact Limited, with KNUST E-Learning Centre and iSchool Consult as implementing partners, now in its second cohort. 

Through programs such as E-Agripreneur, Happy Tech Ambassadors, and COFED training, Cohort 2 participants are being equipped with the skills and resources to bring innovation to their local communities.

HAPPY Program consortium celebrates rural women in agriculture

HAPPY Program consortium celebrates rural women in agriculture

The consortium implementing the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity (HAPPY) Program celebrated rural women last week at Challu in the Sissala East Municipality, Upper West Region, as part of the International Day of Rural Women. The event honoured the vital contributions of rural women to Ghana’s agricultural sector.

HAPPY Program’s Annual Learning Event Held in Sunyani, Highlights Progress Made So Far

HAPPY Program’s Annual Learning Event Held in Sunyani

The Annual HAPPY Learning Event took place last week in Sunyani, Bono Region, to review the first-year achievements and challenges of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program.

A partnership between the Mastercard Foundation, Agri-Impact Limited, and eight other partners, the HAPPY Program aims to create dignified jobs for 326,000 young Ghanaians—70% of whom are women and persons with disabilities—across the poultry, tomatoes, rice, and soybean value chains.

Sandra Usman

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"I’m very grateful for this opportunity, as it aligns with my field of study. Prior to this job, I was dealing in petty trade. I currently support my siblings—one in senior high school and the other in junior high school. This job has really helped me to provide for their needs."

 

 

Accounts Manager, NAPLE Betta

Priscilla Arthur

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"I have a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Procurement and Supply Chain. Until this program came on board, I was at home, not working. I’m really grateful for the HAPPY Program. Many of us were unemployed, but since this project started, we now have stable jobs and income. I’ve learnt a lot through the HAPPY Program, and I’m eager to further my knowledge in the field."

 

Stock Officer, NAPLE Betta

HAPPY Program: Agri-Impact Limited partners NSS, DCS to boost tomato production

Agri-Impact Limited partners NSS, DCS to boost tomato production

Under the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) program, Agri-Impact Limited, has partnered with the Ghana National Service Scheme (NSS) and Directorate of Crop Services (DCS) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to boost tomato production in the Agogo and Kumawu districts of the Ashanti Region.

NSS, DCS and Agri-Impact Limited, are helping young farmers to set up nursery enterprises and providing technical support, with the goal of creating over 2,000 dignified and fulfilling jobs by the end of September 2024 along the tomato value chain.

Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited tour HAPPY Project sites

Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited tour HAPPY Project sites

A joint team from the Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited visited implementation sites of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program in Bono, Ashanti, and Greater Accra regions in September 2024.

In Sunyani, Bono Region, the team toured NAPLE Betta’s plant, an anchor partner that supplies poultry feed for the HAPPY Broilers program.

HAPPY Program has revitalised Ghana's Broiler Industry - NAPLE Betta CEO

Yedent Agro processing plant

The CEO of Yedent Agro Group of Companies and NAPLE Betta Farms, Samuel Ntim, has praised the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program for its vital role in revitalizing Ghana's poultry sector, especially broiler production.
 
According to Ntim, the HAPPY Program—a Mastercard Foundation initiative in partnership with leading agribusiness firm Agri-Impact Limited—has, for the first time, enabled consistent broiler production for the Ghanaian market. Previously, the country relied heavily on imports to meet its growing demand for poultry.

HAPPY International Youth Day 2024: Revolutionising Agriculture through Digital Innovations to Create Jobs for Youth

Vice Chancellor remarks

Increase Investment in Youth

The Chief Executive Officer of the multinational agribusiness firm, Agri-Impact Limited, Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has called for increased investment in the youth of Ghana to help them realise their potential. These investments will enable the youth to make a significant impact on the country’s development.

Mr. Acquaye made this call at an event held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to celebrate International Youth Day on Monday, August 12, 2024.

Emmanuel Owusu Tabiri

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As we continue to learn and grow together in this E-agri-prenuer training program, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude and share my thoughts on our journey so far.

Firstly, I want to thank the organizers, facilitators, and partners (Mastercard Foundation, Agri-Impact Limited, and KNUST E-Learning Centre) for this incredible opportunity. Your dedication and expertise have made a significant impact on our lives, and we are grateful for your support.

HAPPY Program Participant