Govt urged to provide congenial policy environment to attract youth into agriculture

Government has been urged to provide the right policy environment to support youth in agriculture to ensure food security in Ghana.

The Youth in Agriculture Programme has the objective of making youth accept farming as a commercial business venture.

However, youth in agriculture in the country are faced with financial challenges as it compels others to show little interest in farming.

Mr. Abraham Safo, Value Chain, Enterprise Development Specialist at Agri- Impact Limited made these observations at the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for the Youth (HAPPY) programme organized by Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Agri-Impact Limited and in collaboration with Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) in Accra.

The event dubbed “Young Agripreneurs Conference” was under the theme “empowering agrofuture entrepreneurs”.

The 3-Day roadshow was held at the University of Professional Studies, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the University of Ghana.

The objective of the programme is to create about 330, 000 jobs along four agricultural value chains including rice, tomatoes, poultry and soya bean.

Young ‘agripreneurs’ would receive support in the form of capacity- building training, starter-packs, access to land among others.

The programme focuses more on young people from the age range of 15-35years.

Mr Safo indicated that though government is making conscious efforts to enable young people have access to economic opportunities, a lot more should be done in the area of agriculture, especially on issues of land development, irrigation, access to credit among others to advance the agenda of agricultural productivity towards food security.

He urged the youth to see agriculture as a business and profitable venture within which to derive sustainable livelihood.

According to him, “the future is for the youth, but for a youth who is prepared” adding that the country must also consciously invest in the youth to enable them to embrace the future with confidence.

Furthermore, he said after- school support in the form of infrastructure to operate business and working capital is critical to helping the youth achieve their career aspirations towards national development.

Mr. Safo emphasized that there should be policies protecting young entrepreneurs and helping them to be competitive.

He mentioned that the programme uncovers how to create opportunities for the youth along the four value chains.

Mr. Emmanuel Owusu, GRASAG National President urged students across the country to take advantage of the programme because agriculture is now the old but new oil in view of the latest opportunities it entails.

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