The government should make youth and women a priority in agriculture,” emphasized the founder of Agrihouse Foundation.

Written by GliveRadio Accra on June 10, 2024

Stakeholders within Ghana’s agricultural sector are advocating for the government to prioritize research, funding, and commitment to enhance the sector.

They are highlighting several challenges, including ineffective collaboration, policy inconsistencies, weak regulatory compliance, and overlapping efforts across various intervention areas.

During Day 6 of the on-air series of the Citi Business Festival, focusing on “Women and Youth in Agriculture,” Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the founder of Agrihouse Foundation, emphasized the need for the government to implement targeted interventions to make the sector more appealing to youth and women.

“The youth are demonstrating remarkable potential within the sector. Everyone is making efforts to contribute. However, there is a need for more initiatives focused on youth empowerment in agribusiness. Establishing an academy dedicated to youth in agribusiness could greatly advance this agenda.

“If you visit most of our agricultural colleges and farm institutes, it’s disheartening to see that lands suitable for innovative agricultural purposes have been converted for real estate,” she remarked.

Akosa further elaborated, stating, “Agriculture encompasses a blend of theory, practical skills, varying levels of literacy, and education, making it incredibly diverse. However, there are some crucial missing links. While the government is making efforts to engage, it’s essential that we assess the impact of many of these projects and interventions.”

The Citi Business Festival 2024 is presented by 97.3 Citi FM and ChannelOne TV, in collaboration with Absa Bank, and is sponsored by MTN Business, GIRSAL, AMG Fertilizer, and Nsano Ltd.