Opportunities in agriculture are enormous – Young entrepreneur tells fellow youth

Bernice Agboada, a young entrepreneur from Ghana, is harnessing the vast potential in agriculture to create jobs and livelihoods. After finishing school and unsure of her next steps, Bernice discovered the agricultural and food systems sector as a promising avenue for employment. Recognizing the World Bank's findings that investments in agribusiness generate more jobs than equivalent spending in manufacturing or services, Bernice decided to explore this sector.

Having received training and mentorship through the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) program, Bernice now runs Mushroom General, a business focused on growing, packaging, and selling mushrooms. Through this venture, she has developed both technical and entrepreneurial skills, creating jobs for herself and other young people. Currently, Mushroom General employs three youth, and Bernice is eager to expand her operations.

For Bernice, who is living with albinism, her experience in agriculture has reinforced her belief that entrepreneurship should be accessible to all, regardless of ability. She emphasizes that with the right support, persons with disabilities (PWDs) can indeed become successful entrepreneurs. Her business, adhering to sustainable practices and innovative mushroom products, aims to promote healthy living, support local communities, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Bernice envisions Mushroom General's potential extending beyond fresh mushrooms. She aspires to venture into value-added processing, producing mushroom-based snacks, mushroom powder, and other packaged products that can reach broader markets. She firmly believes that agriculture holds enormous opportunities for young people in Africa, and calls for increased support for entrepreneurs developing and processing agricultural products.