By Dora Addy
President Akufo-Addo has bemoaned the high cost of food products in the country, and has said that his government’s vision for the next four years is to mobilize agriculture, improve food production efficiency and achieve food security and profitability for farmers.
In spite of all our efforts in making agriculture the backbone of our economy, the youth are not showing much prospect in developing themselves for the agriculture sector, and while food security is a big topic, this revelation can bring some discomfort.
Continuing on a flourishing path towards one of our most successful income earners for our economy, the need to encourage the growth of agriculture and its sustainability is extremely fundamental to determining our steady economic power.
Considering the several interventions put in place across the various agricultural sectors, I strongly believe the new government will not waver to also play its roles effectively in determining the country’s successes towards a fruitful economy.
Understanding that our national economy stands strong on agriculture, the need to maintain a steady growth in this sector is vital, and the youth must take up the challenge to both grow and sustain this sector.
Relating to how this sector will continue to thrive, we ought to put in our input where we can, and also remind ourselves how well agriculture is doing to help maintain our economy.
Our economic gains rests on agriculture; at least more that 70%. Kudos to our farmers, the country is the second largest exporter of cocoa; producing some 15% for the world market.
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| President Akufo Addo |
Fish has been identified to be one of the best sources of protein, and the most important non-traditional export commodity. The fisheries sub-sector contributes to about 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).This industry provides livelihood for many Ghanaians; helping to reduce the poverty rate. Many who live along coastal lines indulge in fishing, where close to two million men and women are said to be working in the sector. As many as 2.5 million people are employed in this sector. Of the 950,000 metric tonnes of fish consumed annually, Ghana produces 450,000.
To better understand how agriculture is providing and solving the employment challenges across the country, and proving the economic hope of this nation, the concern for the youth to take agriculture to its next expected level of success.
This sector is doing well, but must be maintained through the hard efforts of young men and women very eager to see this nation move towards great economic heights. We cannot all neglect what good the agricultural sector has brought, and how much our lives and economic survival will fare when we fail to keep and upgrade on our good pace in agriculture.
THE YOUTH’S ADAMANCE AND FOOD SECURITY
About 20% to 30% make up the youth in Ghana while, at least 45% of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day, according to a 2015 World Food Program reports.
Wrong perceptions characterize the youth’s mentality towards Agriculture. For most of the youth, the agriculture sector is unattractive because this sector only means low income, dangerous physical work that is meant for the uneducated.
While food security is such a big issue in Ghana, many folks in the three northern regions, that provide the breadbasket of the country, are also living in abject poverty. Most of the youth in the north are uneducated, and quickly abandoning Agriculture for ‘greener pastures’ down south.
Meanwhile, climate change is also threatening farmers in the northern regions of Ghana. Unpredictable climate are causing many to lose their crops, as farmers mainly depend on the rains for a bountiful harvest.
Today only a few youth are taking the opportunities being offered them in agriculture. Only a few youth wish to take a career in agriculture. While most people are looking forward to be employed in the corporate sectors, there is also the question of whether interests have been aroused while in school, and even to a degree, the number of institutions that provide for the training of agriculture for the youth.
Now that many external influences have taken the interests of the youth, it would be quite difficult to present agriculture as the mainstay venture. But a good understanding of what benefits of what one would reap in agriculture is also one factor to spur the youth on to seriously consider agriculture.
The youth have been bitten by the travelling bug. The search for greener pastures underscores the top values of most people today- striving to be successful at all costs, even if it means doing some of the most menial jobs, comes very easy for today’s youth.
Yet, the blessedness of choosing agriculture will always remain the decision of the youth. While there are plenteous opportunities awaiting those who would take the chance, many more are yet to stray from making good decisions, staying in the country, to develop the backbone of their economy.
RESHAPING PREJUDICE
The worry that the youth are consistently straying away from good morals is not a recent concern. Still there is much worry about what future holds for the youth, many of who are given to abject apathy about national development.
The youth must constantly engage in the reflections of how others have come to grow and sustain our food reserves.
Today in Agriculture, the sector has become very attractive for the youth to practice their course contents. Jobs abound in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), financial and environmental management, research, and other courses that are taught in school.
Through the application of modern agricultural practices and tools, agriculture cannot be said to be the sector for poor people. Today, farmers and their households live well. Many of them are exporters, while many others are able to have high yields due to modern agricultural practices.
WHY ROOT FOR AGRICULTURE?
It has been discovered that the life expectancy of farmers in the rural areas is between the ages of 50-55 years. If this group fades away quickly, there needs to be replacement. Food security is threatened, and the youth must quickly take charge.
Many of the youth complaining of unemployment are simply overlooking the agricultural sector. Let us not forget the other enterprising groups of youth who think differently, and who dare to make a difference in their lives and in others’ lives. Today there are some youths in agriculture who have grown wealthy, and even employed other persons to work for them. The youth must learn from such examples.
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| Alan Kyeremateng, Minister of Agriculture |
Import is slowly killing the economy. Meat imports alone cost the country $200 million in 2014. Ghana meat imports rose from 97,719 metric tonnes in 2012, to 183,949 metric tonnes in 2013. This figure represents an increase of 188%.
In 2012, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) said that rice imports cost Ghana $450 million.
We cannot continue to import goods that are otherwise produced in this country. Rice, oil, sugar, chicken, among others are produced here. To consider how much the country spends in importing some of these goods is alarming to our efforts to produce food locally. We stand to lose than gain. Farmers would become poorer when their products are not preferred. Equally, money would not come into our economy. While modern courses are being taught in schools, the youth must take advantage and avert some of these unnecessary imports.
Not only is it the backbone of our economy, providing some 70% of the total, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but concerns are that the lack of youth’s interest in agriculture could lead to a sharp decline in our economic wealth. Our country depends heavily on the inputs of farmers to put us ahead of others.
Again our wealth base in agriculture also helps to determine our next level of advancement in national development, of which the youth must play active roles. We cannot ignore the common knowledge that we are bound to lack in several areas of development and advancement when the agricultural economy slackens. We are where we are not because of those loans taken for development, but more, we have learned to be self-dependent on different levels and have asserted that independence to the rest of the world. Not only can we feel proud, but we can also show the way forward to other countries, that may be struggling to hold their economy together.
Agriculture provides a useful source of food to the national population, without which the country would suffer food shortages and impending hunger. Ghana sits in the midst of many arable lands, while her farmers are equally hardworking, ensuring that all receive their due share of fresh foods. Thankfully we can always expect food on our markets even in sometimes challenging settings. Where some countries are dwindling in hunger, we are proud to mention that we are among the African countries to independently feed ourselves, while exporting some of our food products to other countries.
USEFUL INTERVENTIONS FOR THE YOUTH
The Youth Enterprise Support (YES) was initiated by President John Dramani Mahama in August 2014 to support beneficiaries to possess the requisite skills necessary to guarantee business sustainability and growth.
The enterprise was started with seed money of GHC 10 million, and so far, a greater number of beneficiaries have started business in agriculture and agribusiness.
Through the support of the Youth Enterprise Support (YES) women have taken advantage in agricultural areas and thriving all, and so far beneficiaries are having good agricultural yields on their farm animals and crops.
For many beneficiaries of YES, they have been able to also create jobs in agriculture, while running their personal enterprises in agriculture.
President Akufo-Addo intends to bring some hope to the agricultural sector through policies and programs which aim at recreating the industry, through job opportunities in the area of storage, transport, packaging, processing, and marketing of agricultural products.
The president also intends to assign specific roles to district assemblies and traditional authorities, in agricultural development, while women will also gain immensely through supports in agriculture.
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