Volta Youth farmers commend Agric Minister, appeal for markets for cassava growers
The Volta Youth in Agriculture has congratulated the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, for his dedicated leadership and efforts towards advancing agricultural production.
The youth group, however, appealed for markets for young cassava farmers in the region.
Madam Joy Fiamawle, the Public Relations Officer of the group, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), commended the minister for his commitment to make agriculture more productive, resilient and attractive to the youth in general.
“The Minister’s emphasis on increasing food production, supporting farmers, promoting agricultural value chains and building the capacity of young people to take part meaningfully in the sector is an important step towards a stronger and more sustainable agricultural economy,” she said.
Madam Fiamawle described agriculture as more than an economic activity, and called it a powerful vehicle for job creation, youth empowerment, food security, poverty reduction and national development.
She explained that the group appreciated initiatives and policies that placed farmers and young agricultural entrepreneurs at the centre of Ghana’s development agenda.
She said: As a group, we also welcome efforts by the Minister to improve access to agricultural inputs, irrigation, mechanisation, markets, technology and other resources needed to raise productivity.
“We believe that, with the right support, young people can become the next generation of commercial farmers, agribusiness owners, processors, exporters and agricultural innovators.”
She encouraged the Ministry to keep prioritising youth-led agriculture, particularly in the regions, such as the Volta, which the group said has significant potential for crop production, livestock, aquaculture, agro-processing and agribusiness.
According to the group, a deliberate national programme giving young farmers access to land, affordable financing, irrigation, improved seeds, mechanisation, extension services, storage, processing facilities and guaranteed markets would significantly speed up the transformation of the sector.
The group further suggested stronger links between farmers and institutional buyers, including schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and food processors, could create sustainable markets for locally produced commodities.
The group raised a specific concern about young cassava producers, adding that, “many are becoming discouraged because they cannot find buyers for what they grow. We demand initiatives to secure markets for them.”
The Volta Youth in Agriculture assured the Minister of its willingness to work with government and other stakeholders to promote agriculture among the youth and pledged to continue to champion the message that agriculture was a business, a source of employment and a pathway to prosperity.
The group said it was confident that with sustained leadership, collaboration and investment, the country could cut its dependence on imported food, raise domestic production and build a competitive agricultural sector which would be able to feed the nation and create wealth.