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Ghana Develops Youth Agriculture Program

18:27, 17 August 2023

Samantha Arias

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According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development Country Strategic Opportunities Programme 2019-2024, agriculture is the primary employment source in Ghana, as well as an important source of foreign exchange through exports.

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The Ghanaian capital of Accra has welcomed the introduction of the project Rethink, an initiative that aims to change the mindset of young people towards agriculture and agribusiness, according to local media.

The project, presented on Wednesday, was created with the primary purpose of mentoring young people in order to develop their skills with the help of modern technology and best farming practices in the agricultural chain, media reported.

The chief executive officer of Siriboe Farms Limited and 2022 National Best Farmer, Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe, told local media that the initiative was set to revitalize the agricultural sector by creating a new generation of young entrepreneurs along the value chain.

"For me, the accolade of the National Best Farmer is a call to action, a call to rethink the essence of agriculture in the country; and that is why we seek to equip the youth with the tools, knowledge and education they need to sustain the legacy and move it to the next level," the CEO added, as cited by local media.

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Strategic partners, Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) stated their commitment and agreed to help transform agriculture in the country, according to local media.

Additionally, the program is intended to serve as a platform for youth to connect with policy makers and industry players to implement policies that empower youth and also facilitate their access to finance.

"We know that a hungry man is an angry man, so if citizens are getting hungry because of poor agriculture output, it means they are getting angry; that is the context within which GCGL is supporting this initiative," added the director of marketing, GCGL, Franklin Sowa, as cited by media.

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development Country Strategic Opportunities Programme 2019-2024, the government of Ghana believes that the "best possibility to turn around the economic fortunes of the country and transform the lives of many people" is provided by agriculture, especially in rural areas.

Currently, the economic growth of Ghana slowed down against the backdrop of general global turbulence and lingering effects of the pandemic, but, according to the World Bank, is expected to recover by 2025.

"Economic growth is projected to slow down to 1.5% in 2023 and remain depressed in 2024 at 2.8% but the economy is expected to recover to its potential growth by 2025," the body said.