IYD: Ghana urged to empower youth for agricultural growth

The Netherlands has called on Ghana to prioritize young people in agricultural development by offering them access to skills, finance, and market opportunities. Deputy Ambassador Wendy van Meel from the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana emphasized that empowering the youth is crucial for building sustainable value chains, generating decent jobs, and enhancing food security. She highlighted that supporting young people is integral to agricultural growth and not a standalone initiative.

At a ceremony marking International Youth Day in Accra, van Meel pointed out that the real obstacle is the absence of appropriate support systems for young entrepreneurs to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses. The event gathered young leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, financial institutions, and policymakers to explore avenues for youth involvement in agribusiness and other expanding sectors.

Ghana and the Netherlands have bolstered their cooperation in trade, investment, and market development, with agriculture, especially cocoa and horticulture, being a primary focus of collaboration. Van Meel noted that the main obstacles to Ghana's horticulture sector include insufficient technical and entrepreneurial skills, disorganized interventions, weak enabling systems, and limited access to finance.

The Netherlands has backed programs such as the ACHI initiative, which has trained over 1,200 young professionals and 60 lead farmers, and the Horticulture Business Challenge, which assists young entrepreneurs in devising solutions to sector challenges.

The Embassy, in partnership with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, has also commissioned an Access to Finance Roadmap to identify financing gaps and practical solutions for Ghana's horticulture sector. Concerning cocoa, van Meel pointed out that the sector faces challenges due to an aging farmer population and a lack of youth interest.

She mentioned plans to launch a media campaign to promote cocoa among young people, a Cocoa Innovations Hackathon at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Cocoa Hub project, which aids young rural service-center owners in enhancing their businesses and accessing partnerships and finance.

Deputy Minister John Setor Dumelo of Food and Agriculture indicated that the Ministry has taken steps to aid young people entering agriculture, such as supplying fertilizers, seeds, agro-inputs, and technical guidance. However, he urged prospective beneficiaries to display commitment by initiating their ventures before requesting government assistance.

Dumelo stressed that the Ministry is promoting year-round farming to enhance production and establish dependable markets, while partnering with private-sector entities to buy and process excess maize, rice, and other cereals. He encouraged young people to explore the entire agribusiness value chain, stating that opportunities extend beyond crop farming.

Dr Rens Twijnstra, Head of the Economic Department at the Netherlands Embassy, highlighted that Ghana's expanding youth population, urbanization, and aging farming community make youth participation in agriculture a policy priority. He emphasized that meaningful youth engagement in agricultural value chains is essential for bridging the gap in employment opportunities brought about by technological advancements.

Twijnstra stressed that without the active involvement of young people, there will be a significant disconnect. The Netherlands sees potential for collaboration with Ghana in cocoa, horticulture, and other agricultural areas and pledges to continue supporting initiatives that enable young people to contribute to their nation's development.