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Monday, April 2, 2012

Hope for young farmers in Africa

With the ultimate aim of helping to satisfy young people's interest, goals and aspirations in farming, the Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC) and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana organised from 19 – 21 March,2012 in Accra,Ghana a three day international conference to debate recent research findings and policy options about agriculture in regards to the youth in Africa.

The international conference which was organised under the theme Young People, Farming & Food: The Future of the Agrifood Sector in Africa brought together many young farmers and agricultural experts across the African continent.

The purpose of the conference was to debate recent agricultural and research policies and how best they can make it more attractive to young African farmers.

In his welcome address Dr. Sam Dapaah who spoke on behalf of Hon. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Government of Ghana, noted that transporting of products and access to funds are major problems affecting young farmers in the sub-region. He indicated that the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has acquired tractors to plough lands for young farmers free of charge. In addition he stressed that seeds are also given to interested young farmers on highly subsidised credit terms and as payback, they would decide whether to pay back in cash or give some seedlings.

On the issue of access to loans, Dr. Sam Dapaah who is the Special Advisor to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Government of Ghana urged young farmers to attach themselves to some farming associations so that they can access loans from the bank in groups rather than doing so individually. He told the participants that the Government of Ghana has instituted an award package for farmers and it is celebrated on the first Friday in December every year, adding that winners are given vehicles, buildings and farming tools and young farmers are also awarded handsomely.

According to him these are some of the initiatives the government of Ghana is doing to make farming attractive to young people.
Dr. Dapaah later charged ISSER to develop a mechanism where they can monitor various sections in the agricultural sector in order to inform and help young people seeking jobs in the sector.

The President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Dr. Namanga Ngongi, in his keynote address mentioned that Agriculture is the backbone of sub-Saharan Africa's rural economies; yet the vast majority of the human assets and capital of Africa remain locked out of this economic sector across the entire agricultural value chain – from farming to research, innovation, product development and market participation.

According to Dr. Ngongi there is a growing and palpable momentum in Africa's fight for food security, prosperity and sustainable agricultural development with investment and actions to promote an African Green Revolution gaining ground.
He was of the view that some 30 African countries have signed NEPAD’s- CAADP compacts with the support of multinational and bilateral donors as well as private foundations to ensure the necessary actions to catalyse an agricultural revolution in Africa.

To him the G8 and G20 have placed food security to the top of the agenda and the next G8 gathering in the USA will be no different and that this was an opportunity that must not be missed. He said “if young people living in rural areas do not find enough incentives, profitable economic opportunities and attractive environments in which they can live and work, they will continue to migrate to the urban cities in large numbers and the opportunity to attract a steady flow of investments to transform Africa's agricultural sector will be missed”.

He noted that there was the need to invest in the young people transitioning into adulthood and eager to take their place as active and productive citizens because they constitute the pool of Africa's agricultural entrepreneurs, innovators and farmers.

More information about the Conference:

Author: Nana Agyeman Birikorang; journalist – The Ghanaian Observer Newspaper, Accra/Ghana

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