Keypoints:
- Degas pledges $100m for AI farming
- Investment to scale precision agriculture nationwide
- Mahama hails boost to value-chain agenda
DEGAS Limited, the Japanese-founded agritech firm using artificial intelligence and satellite monitoring to boost farmer productivity, has announced a $100 million investment to establish Ghana as Africa’s first AI-powered agricultural hub. The four-year commitment was unveiled at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum in Yokohama, Japan, where Degas chief executive Doga Makiura met President John Dramani Mahama.
The company already works with more than 86,000 smallholder farmers across 122,000 acres nationwide, offering financing, crop monitoring, and precision agronomy services that have doubled farmer incomes while maintaining a 95 percent repayment rate.
‘Ghana has shown that when technology meets a clear national vision, smallholder farmers can thrive,’ Makiura told the gathering, according to the company’s statement shared at the forum.
AI and satellites driving transformation
Degas plans to expand its AI-driven platform, which helps farmers increase yields, cut risk, and access affordable credit.
‘Our $100 million commitment will scale AI-driven satellite monitoring and precision agriculture techniques so farmers can boost yields, reduce risk, and access fairly priced finance,’ Makiura said.
Japanese investors eye Ghana’s model
The company’s approach has drawn significant interest from Japanese partners, who, Makiura said, now view Ghana’s integrated model as the ‘gold standard for agricultural investment in Africa’.
‘President Mahama’s focus on value-chain integration aligns closely with Japan’s search for credible, scalable partnerships,’ he added.
Mahama welcomes vote of confidence
President Mahama hailed the announcement as a strong endorsement of Ghana’s agricultural transformation drive.
‘This investment reinforces our commitment to integrated agricultural value chains that connect farmers to markets, finance, storage, and processing,’ he said. ‘By leveraging AI and precision technologies, we will improve productivity, enhance food security, and create dignified jobs for youth across rural communities.’
Strengthening Ghana’s value chains
The new funding will support Degas’ expansion of farmer financing, satellite-enabled crop monitoring, and precision agronomy services. It will also deepen partnerships in input supply, logistics, and offtake, strengthening local agricultural value chains.
By aligning private capital with government policy, Ghana is seeking to turn AI-enabled farming into a driver of rural transformation and a model for the continent.
