A growing stream of international visitors to a greenhouse facility in Dawhenya is revealing an opportunity Ghana has largely overlooked: the potential to export agricultural knowledge alongside agricultural products.
Recent visits by agribusiness executives from the United States, development agencies, government officials and a delegation from Liberia suggest that some of Ghana’s commercial farms are attracting attention not only for what they produce, but also for the production systems, technologies and business models they have developed.
At the centre of this trend is Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited, a Tadzevu-based agribusiness company in the Volta region that operates across farming, aggregation, processing and exports. Since taking over the previously idle greenhouse and irrigation facility at Dawhenya in 2025, the company has transformed the site into a centre for agricultural production, skills development and knowledge exchange.
What began as a commercial greenhouse operation supplying vegetables to local and export markets and serving as a training ground for young agripreneurs has evolved into a destination for policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and development practitioners seeking practical insights into modern agriculture.
The latest delegation, comprising officials from Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture and selected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises operating under a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) programme, visited the facility to study production systems, value addition strategies, sustainable sourcing practices and export market integration.
The visit followed an earlier tour by 27 agribusiness executives from Indiana in the United States, who explored opportunities for collaboration between Ghanaian and American agricultural enterprises.
The increasing number of such visits points to a broader shift in how agricultural assets create value. Beyond producing food, commercial farms are increasingly becoming centres for training, innovation, technology transfer and regional cooperation.
Agriculture’s Untapped Tourism Opportunity
Ghana’s tourism industry has traditionally been built around heritage, culture, wildlife and leisure. Yet growing global interest in climate-smart agriculture, food systems and agribusiness entrepreneurship is creating opportunities for a different form of tourism centred on learning and knowledge exchange.
Known as agro-tourism, the model combines travel with education, technical training and business networking.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Israel and the United States have successfully integrated commercial farms into broader innovation ecosystems, attracting students, researchers, investors and policymakers seeking exposure to modern production systems.
Ghana could develop a similar niche by leveraging successful agribusiness ventures as practical learning centres for visitors from across Africa and beyond.
Maphlix’s Dawhenya operation increasingly reflects that possibility.
Since assuming management of the facility, the company has revived infrastructure that had remained largely underutilised for years under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Today, the greenhouse and irrigation project serves not only as a production centre but also as a training platform for thousands of young Ghanaians interested in agribusiness and export-oriented farming.
The facility integrates greenhouse production, irrigation management, technology adoption, market-led agriculture and skills development within a single operation, making it an attractive case study for countries seeking to improve productivity and food security.
Exporting Knowledge
For Maphlix Chief Executive Officer Dr Felix Mawuli Kamassah, the growing interest reflects a broader need for African countries to collaborate more closely on agricultural development.
“We want Africa to know that we can do it. This is the time for us to believe in ourselves. We have the expertise here and we are happy for other countries to visit and learn from what we are doing,” he said.
According to him, knowledge exchange can help strengthen production systems across the continent while creating opportunities for trade and investment.
“We can exchange knowledge and support each other. Many African countries consume similar foods. Where there is a shortage, we should be able to work together and support each other.”
For Liberia, which imports significant quantities of vegetables, the visit offered an opportunity to examine production techniques that could help expand domestic output and reduce reliance on imports.
The discussions also explored opportunities for technical cooperation and regional trade.
Farms as Platforms for Economic Diplomacy
The increasing number of international delegations visiting facilities such as Maphlix reflects broader changes taking place within West African agriculture.
As countries seek to modernise their food systems, successful agribusiness enterprises are increasingly serving as demonstration centres for technology transfer, investment promotion and skills development.
The transformation of the Dawhenya greenhouse project is particularly notable because it demonstrates how underutilised public agricultural infrastructure can be repurposed to support commercial farming, youth employment and export growth.
Such engagements often generate benefits beyond immediate commercial transactions. They can lead to investment partnerships, training programmes, export contracts and stronger regional value chains.
In effect, agricultural enterprises are becoming instruments of economic diplomacy.
The trend aligns with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to deepen intra-African trade and strengthen productive capacity across the continent.
Climate Change Raises the Stakes
While opportunities are expanding, climate change remains a major challenge.
Dr Kamassah noted that changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are making traditional farming methods increasingly unpredictable.
“The climate has changed. We can no longer rely on old assumptions about when rains will come. This is why smart agriculture is becoming essential.”
He called for greater investment in research, irrigation, water harvesting and climate-resilient farming systems to ensure future productivity.
A New Export Industry?
The emergence of agro-tourism presents a potentially significant opportunity for Ghana.
Beyond generating revenue for farms, agricultural tourism can support hotels, transport operators, educational institutions and local businesses while strengthening the country’s reputation as a regional agribusiness hub.
As more international delegations continue to visit facilities such as Maphlix, Ghana may be witnessing the early stages of a new export industry, one that exports not only agricultural products, but also expertise, innovation and practical agricultural knowledge.
