Ghanaian Youth tout agro-tourism as driver of empowerment in agribusiness

The agriculture sector over the years has been touted as the panacea for youth unemployment, and this has ignited several actions from both the state and private sectors to involve young folks, aiming to change the narrative of the sector being dominated by the old and uneducated.

Besides, social media penetration has also given rise to some individuals sharing their journey into agribusiness and how content creators like Enyonam Manye, a media personality, use her platform, The Ghanaian Farmer, to educate and inspire the youth to take advantage of the vast opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Since its journey started five years ago, The Ghanaian Farmer also created other initiatives aside from one-on-one interviews with farmers and experts. One of such is the agro-tourism project to link agricultural enthusiasts to farmers and commercial agro companies to learn and experience their areas of interest before venturing into the sector.

During its maiden trip to the Central Region of Ghana on Friday, February 28, 2025, the agro-tourism excursion took entrepreneurs and enthusiasts through the basics of poultry production in one of the country’s privately owned commercial poultry farms.

In partnership with Count on Crops Hub, a firm dedicated to agricultural revitalisation, and the Young Farmers Development Organisation (YOFDO), the trip to Farm Fresh Foods was nothing short of education and business orientation into poultry production.

Established in 2019, with operations fully commencing in February 2022, the farm specialises in layers, with a capacity of 150,000 birds, producing 3,300 to 3,500 crates of eggs daily, supplying its produce mainly to the Central, Western, and Greater Accra regions.

The Manager of the farm,  Benjamin Owiredu says the poultry value chain presents opportunities for job creation, especially for grain farmers and feed producers, as the birds in their farm alone consume around 16.2 tonnes of food daily, sourced locally, thereby empowering local production and boosting the Ghanaian economy.

While taking patrons of The Ghanaian Farmer Agro-tourism through their operations, Mr. Owiredu stated that one of the key points of success in poultry production is record keeping.

“Record keeping is the most critical aspect of every business. If you don’t keep records, you’ll be running at a loss. And keeping these records will immediately make you aware of some mistakes you are making so that you can quickly correct those errors,” he said.

Mr Owiredu also advised the agro tourists to fully commit to any agricultural business they might want to undertake, emphasising that providing only financial support without physical involvement can lead to complacency and failure.

Speaking about the importance of agro-tourism and its economic impact, Mrs Enyonam Manye Adjetey, the founder of The Ghanaian Farmer and Count on Crops Hub said agro-tourism in Ghana can be a game-changer to allow young Ghanaians to experience what goes on in farms, processing entities and and agricultural companies to whip their interests and to remove the notion that the sector ends at only small-scale farming.

She added that for the youth, agro-tourism can make agriculture more appealing and attractive, showcasing its potential as a viable career path while providing hands-on training and skills development opportunities.

“Agro tourism is becoming something that a lot of farmers in different countries are exploring, and Ghana is no exception.”

“One way to learn, clear the negative misconceptions that young people have about agriculture, and one way to attract customers and consumers to these farms and create market linkages is also through agro-tourism. This is also a way to connect back to nature; our customs and traditions. Many aspects of agro-tourism can be experienced during these visits,” she added.

Mrs Adjetey also commended President Mahama’s vision for the agricultural sector in his recent State of the Nation Address and called on the president to turn his promises into actions.

“For young people, the enthusiasm and passion to enter the agricultural sector is there, but a few things need to be put in place for us, such as infrastructure, access to funding, and policies that support youth involvement,” she added.

Participants of the maiden Ghanaian Farmer Agro-tourism trip to Farm Fresh Food in Cape Coast acknowledged the huge opportunities in poultry production with the right investments and policy implementation to help reduce the import burden of frozen chicken in Ghana.

A patron, Moses Appiah-Amartey said “this trip has really been an eye-opener for me. I have always wanted to venture into agriculture and even invested in rice cultivation, but I incurred losses. This trip has enlightened me on the need to be actively involved in farming, not just providing the funds.”

Another participant and an agric entrepreneur, Sandra Naa Momo Afotey  shared how she is excited to start her own poultry farm with the little funds she has gathered.

“Even though I’m already in agribusiness, I want to also start poultry farming with the sow savings I’ve got. I believe having many businesses doesn’t hurt, besides, I’ve gotten free consultation services here.”

Agro-tourism is one of untapped areas of the agricultural value chain as it has the potential to support rural economies by generating income through agriculture-based activities by educating visitors on sustainable farming practices, promoting environmental awareness.

By Stephen Freeman

 

The post Ghanaian Youth tout agro-tourism as driver of empowerment in agribusiness first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story