From passion to national impact: Robben Asare’s journey with KIC

The story of Robben Asare, Ghana’s National Best Youth Farmer 2025, is a powerful testament to how Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) is transforming youth passion into profitable and nationally impactful agribusiness.

Robben’s journey with KIC began in 2019 as a KIC Fellow, where he was exposed to practical agribusiness training, mentorship and entrepreneurial thinking. Through this experience, his passion for agriculture was sharpened into a clear business vision, giving him technical confidence and strategic direction to pursue large-scale production.

Inspired by the KIC ecosystem and the hands-on approach to agribusiness development, Robben transitioned fully into commercial plantation farming, focusing on rice, mango and other crops. With continued guidance, market-oriented thinking and climate-smart production practices promoted within KIC programmes, his farm steadily expanded in both scale and impact.

Today, Robben stands as a clear reflection of the same pathway that KIC is intentionally building through the Young Farmer Business Academy (YFBA), a programme designed to provide young people with training, agricultural inputs, mentorship and structured support to go directly into production. Just like Robben’s journey, YFBA equips youth not only to farm, but to build sustainable agribusinesses that create jobs, strengthen food security and contribute to local economic development.

Robben’s hard work and consistency have earned him national recognition, including the Best National Youth Farmer Award at the 2025 National Farmers’ Day Celebration. Beyond the awards, his impact is seen in the jobs he has created, the improved livelihoods within his community and the inspiration he continues to provide to young people across Ghana.

Reflecting on his journey in a recent interview, Robben shared: “A very big thank you to KIC — they changed my passion into a business.”

His story perfectly illustrates KIC’s vision of raising a generation that sees agriculture not as a last resort, but as a pathway to leadership, innovation and national development. Through initiatives like the KIC Fellowship and the Young Farmer Business Academy (YFBA), KIC continues to turn youthful ambition into national agricultural success stories.

The post From passion to national impact: Robben Asare’s journey with KIC appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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