Madam Adedolapo Alabi, an Agribusiness Expert, a farmer, and the Project Officer- Youth and Gender at the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), has disclosed that agriculture is the ‘new gold’ in Ghana; therefore, the youth should consider venturing into it.
There is money in agriculture, and the youth of Ghana must be poised to take advantage of it despite all the current challenges the sector is faced with, regarding the surge in inputs prices, she added. She opined that every business is risky, therefore, the youth and investors alike looking to multiply their proceeds should consider farming.
Speaking to the Vaultz news, Madam Adedolapo noted that although farmers lament about their losses, that should not deter the youth from venturing into agriculture.
“Agriculture has evolved lately. There are new developments in farming every day. With the youth having access to smartphones, they can access any information ranging from weather forecasts to the best farm management practices to aid in their farming venture. There are huge demands for locally produced foods and livestock, especially in the times we find ourselves in, and organizations are calling for startups in agriculture to fund. Kosmos Energy is one of such organizations and other financial institutions.”
Adedolap Alabi
Agriculture has evolved lately
She noted that agriculture has much potential and is no longer a profession for the aged. Agriculture can be a very lucrative business for the youth and investors alike. The cash crops, livestock, food, and fruits produced would always yield a good income as food is an essential commodity that people can never get tired of, she stressed.
Agriculture is the ‘new gold’
Within the developing agenda of Ghana, agriculture is identified as one of the economic pillars.
Adding to why she termed agriculture as the new gold, Madam Adedolapo said there had been numerous initiatives by the past and present governments to stir up youth interest in agriculture. She added that programs had been designed to support young people who want to enter farming.
“Agriculture has been touted as a job for the aged since time immemorial, so many shun it. In recent times, that narrative has changed, and the eyes of numerous youth have been opened to the potential gold in agriculture. The Youth in Agriculture initiative programme under the Akuffo Addo government caused a wave in the agriculture space for the youth and saw many Ghanaian youths venturing into agriculture. Other agri-organizations like Solidaridad and GIZ also have been at the forefront advocating and supporting numerous youth to enter into agriculture.”
Adedolap Alabi
Madam Adedolapo said, “I am gradually attaining financial freedom since I started rice farming in 2018”.
“I was introduced to rice farming in 2018 by a group of farmers during a survey in Northern Ghana. I was scared initially, but I can say that entering into agriculture has been the best decision. I started with 10 acres of rice and had more than 50 percent profit; look at that. Not every business will give you that much profit. This is not to say I didn’t suffer any losses. Like every other farmer, I suffered from the weather, and accessing inputs was challenging. The only difference is that I knew better as a youth and could offset the losses.”
Adedolapo Alabi
In explaining further why agriculture is the ‘new gold’, Madam Adedolapo said agriculture is a significant opportunity for one to earn an income either on a large or small scale, adding that there are also a lot of career options in agriculture.
While employment opportunities in Ghana are becoming more numerous due to the country’s economic growth, the job market remains unable to absorb the rapidly expanding young labor force. Hence the youth of Ghana are advised to consider farming to improve their income-earning status and help to accelerate agricultural growth and improve food security.
What government can do make Agriculture more attractive to the youth
As the world keeps revolving, there are now different ways to earn from agriculture without owning a farm or even physically being present on the farm. There are the likes of Nserewa project, a contract type of farming where investors sit in the comfort of their homes and all they do is invest their money with farmers who are willing to do the work and get their profits at the end of the farming season. Undeniably, agriculture can never be out of season and the youth are encouraged to chart a new career path in agriculture.
In solving the sector’s current challenges, Madam Adedolapo said the government should design policies and programmes to suit the Ghanaian context, help provide a ready market for farm produce and provide credit access to youth who would love to enter into farming to provide mechanization options.
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