Gov’t urged to invest in Non-Traditional Agriculture to tackle Youth unemployment 

The Ashanti Regional Chairman for Non-Traditional Agriculture, Mr. Cletus Nsoh, has urged the government to prioritise investment in non-traditional aspects of the agriculture sector as a sustainable solution to youth unemployment in Ghana.

Non-Traditional Agriculture (NTA) is the production of animals domesticated from wild stock, either native or non-native, and are being confined, bred, and/or fed for domestic purposes.

The entity of Non-Traditional Agriculture, which can be located on the premises of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Kumasi, also impacts knowledge to individuals who are interested in the venture, as well as guiding them on start-up activities.

Mr. Nsoh urged individuals to venture into NTA because it is a very lucrative venture and very easy to execute and does not require much for its  “start-up capital” and much space.

He disclosed that a lot of the youth have the passion to venture into the agricultural sector, but do not know which aspect of it to engage in.

According to the Regional Chairman, wild stocks such as grass cutters, ground squirrels and rabbits among others are scarce and now being imported from neighbouring countries, resulting in its high selling prices, urging individuals to venture into NTA.

Explaining the essence of rearing rabbits, Mr. Nsoh disclosed that their excretes can be used for manure and also its furs can be exported for the economic growth of the nation.

Mr. Nsoh described feeding and sheltering (pens) of rabbits as capital-intensive and a major challenge and urged the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Asunafo, to come to the aid of NTA.

Mr. Cletus Nsoh further urged government to clamp down on individuals who, in the name of job trainining, misinform the public via social media and television about the “harvest periods” of some animals, citing catfish and snails of having a six month and one or two year harvest period respectively, but not a three month and six month period respectively as propagated by these individuals.

From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi

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